Pecan Free Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Turmeric & Garlic
Sweet potatoes get a serious glow-up here — boiled until fork-tender, then smashed flat and roasted at high heat until the edges turn deeply golden and almost lacquer-crisp. The spice blend of turmeric, smoked paprika, garlic, and ginger transforms each potato into something that tastes far more complex than the short ingredient list suggests. That two-stage cooking method is the real secret: boiling first guarantees a creamy interior, while the hot oven does the work of crisping up every jagged, spread-out edge. A finishing squeeze of lemon juice and a scatter of fresh parsley cut through the richness and brighten the whole dish beautifully. Everything on this ingredient list is naturally free from tree nuts of any kind, so there's no label-scanning or substitution stress involved — just straightforward pantry staples. These make a stunning side dish for weeknight dinners or a crowd-pleasing addition to a holiday spread, and they come together with minimal fuss.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 2 lb small sweet potatoes (about 8, each roughly 3–4 inches long)
- 1 tsp salt, plus more for the boiling water
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
For serving
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped (optional)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Place the sweet potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water by at least 1 inch, and add a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a steady simmer and cook until a fork slides through the thickest potato with no resistance, about 20–25 minutes.
- 2
Drain the potatoes and let them sit in the colander for 2–3 minutes until the surface moisture evaporates. Drizzle 1 tbsp of the olive oil onto a large rimmed baking sheet and spread it to coat the surface.
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