Description
Baked Sweet Potato is a simple, nutritious, and versatile dish featuring naturally sweet, fluffy interior and a crisp skin. Perfect as a wholesome side, a quick snack, or a meal base, this recipe highlights easy preparation, minimal ingredients, and customizable flavors suited for various dietary needs including gluten-free and vegan options.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 medium-sized sweet potatoes (firm, smooth skin)
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- Salt, to taste
Optional Herbs and Spices
- Cinnamon (optional)
- Paprika (optional)
- Rosemary (optional)
- Thyme (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Sour cream
- Cheese
- Nuts or seeds
- Avocado slices
- Tahini
- Greek yogurt
- Honey
- Bacon bits (for savory variation)
- Chopped chives
- Black beans, corn, salsa, fresh cilantro (for loaded bowl)
Instructions
- Preheat Your Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure even cooking and help achieve a crispy skin with a soft, fluffy interior.
- Prepare the Sweet Potatoes: Wash and scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly to remove any dirt. Pat dry and prick the skin a few times with a fork to allow steam to escape while baking.
- Add Oil and Seasoning: Lightly rub the sweet potato skins with olive oil or butter and sprinkle with salt. This step enhances flavor and helps crisp up the skin during baking.
- Bake Until Tender: Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes depending on the size, until a knife slides easily through the center.
- Let Cool and Add Toppings: Allow the baked sweet potatoes to cool slightly before slicing them open. Add your favorite herbs, spices, or toppings to enhance flavor and texture.
Notes
- Choose sweet potatoes of similar size for consistent cooking.
- Wrapping potatoes in foil yields a softer skin; baking uncovered produces a crisper skin.
- Test doneness by gently piercing with a fork or skewer; it should slide in easily.
- Let the sweet potatoes rest for 5-10 minutes after baking for fluffier texture.
- For faster cooking, microwave on high for 5-7 minutes before crisping skin in the oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 medium baked sweet potato
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: baked sweet potato, healthy side dish, gluten free, vegan, easy recipe, nutritious snack, versatile sweet potato
