Friday, February 12, 2010

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries...

Who does not love fries? I know I could and have ~ eaten a plate of sweet potato fries for dinner and nothing else. They're creamy, a bit crunchy, and very satisfying. I like them kicked up with a light dusting of spicy chili powder, but they're also great with just a simple sprinkle of sea salt. If you're not a fan of chili, these fries are great just with plain salt. I also like them with cumin, smoked paprika or any other strongly flavored spice.

Sweet potatoes are available year-round, but their prime season is really autumn and winter. Choose potatoes that are smooth and unblemished, and use them fairly soon because they don’t keep as well as other potatoes. These potatoes are crispy like fries but they’re better for you because they’re baked.

I admit that last night I did not eat just the fries… I stopped by my favorite barbecue place, Sconyers Bar-B-Que,
and picked up a quart of their world famous pulled pork, so I could have a good sandwich with my fries.



Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients:
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled
2 tablespoons good olive oil
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon chili powder

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Halve the sweet potatoes lengthwise and cut each half into long spears. Place them on a sheet pan and toss with the olive oil. Spread the potatoes in one layer. Combine the brown sugar, salt, pepper and chili powder ~ sprinkle on the potatoes. Bake for 15 minutes and then turn with a spatula. Bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Sprinkle lightly with salt and serve hot.

Serves 2

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George’s notes:
  • Sweet Potatoes are a nutritional power house. High in vitamin A and vitamin c, they are also loaded with fiber. They are excellent immunity builders and also help balance blood sugars. Adding these wonderful tubers to your diet provide a great healthy way to snack.
  • Although it is sometimes called a yam, the sweet potato is not in the yam family, nor is it closely related to the common potato.
  • Sconyers Bar-B-Que has been a fixture in Augusta, GA since 1956. It would be hard to find anyone living here who has not had their barbecue. They have even catered barbecues on the lawn of The White House. During The Masters golf tournament, the line to get in is several blocks long.


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25 comments:

  1. I absolutely love sweet potatoes and keep wanting to make fries using them. I'm sure they are delicious and need to try this already!!!

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  2. spicy - sweet potato - those three words are playing over and over in my head.

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  3. Good pulled pork is hard to beat and you're fortunate to have a place nearby that provides it. I've found there to be lots of BBQ places but few good ones. Your fries look great and they are one of my favorites.

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  4. Potato fries looks crispy and tempting...

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  5. Those fries look mighty tasty and so does that pulled pork sandwich - mmmm!

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  6. Sweet potato fries are really starting to make an appearance on restaurant menus-why not, they are a really nice alternative to traditional fries. Much better for you too! Of course, served up with that pull pork bbq sandwich is over the top.

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  7. Wow. Sweet potato fries sound good enough on their lonesome but with pulled pork, incredible! I'd love to have this for lunch today...

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  8. Thank you for this recipe. Costco has a huge bag of frozen Sweet Potato Fries that have been tempting me and I finally decided I'd look around for a recipe. Voila! Thanks for posting this George.

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  9. I adore sweet potato fries for the contrast in flavors of sweet and salty. This looks like a great recipe!

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  10. I love sweet potatoes!! Your dinner is appetizing :)

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  11. Those are called Chips over here, we love sweet potato and the BBQ'd pulled pork looks delicious, happy weekend. Kathy.

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  12. I love love love sweet potatoes. These just might have to find their way into my home!

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  13. How did I find my way here? I don't remember, but I am happy I did! Sweet Potato Fries, Brussel Sprouts, Tomato Soup, Shrimp and Grits, Polenta, Bread Pudding Muffins……oh yes, I like it around here. And Sconyers? Isn't that the bbq place they were talking about at the reunion last year {she says talking to herself}, yep, clicked on the link and shore nuf is. Happy to meet you George, I'll be back. Oh, and General Tso's Chicken? Second only to General Tso's Shrimp!

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  14. We are huge fans of the sweet potato fry - yum! Love that you baked them and the pairing with the pulled pork sammie.

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  15. I'm a sweet potato freak and I love them in the oven. I think they do have an acquired taste, but once seasoned properly, they're as addictive as regular potato fries.

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  16. This is the first time I've ever seen sweet potato frys made with a little bit of brown sugar, now that just tickles my fancy.

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  17. George, the fries look wonderful. This is one thing I have trouble making. I can never get mine to crisp. They would be wonderful with pork. I hope you had a good day. Blessings...Mary

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  18. Sweet potato fries are a favorite of mine--they look delicious here, especially with that pulled pork sandwich!

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  19. you know what my favorite sweet potato splurge is? if you guessed sweet potato fries dipped in cinnamon butter, you'd be right. :)

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  20. OK, OK I'll make them. Stop twisting my arm.:)
    I just so happen to have some sweet potatoes that I need to use so...fries today!

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  21. My husband loves sweet potato fries and pulled pork. This meal is right on the money! I'll have to hide this picture from him, or he'll be hinting at this.

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  22. I'll take a sweet potato fry over the regular kind any day.

    P.S: About my frittata, I totally agree with your Tobasco suggestion : )

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  23. Those sweet potato fries turned out perfectly! I first thought that they were fried but baked is even better.

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  24. I have also eaten a plate of spicy sweet potato fries for dinner too. I love them with chili powder and extra spice added to them. Great recipe:D

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  25. Alright, I am still on these fries. I have tried many times, and I just can't get them crispy. They get baked, but mushy and some edges even get blackened. What am I doing wrong and what is the trick?

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