Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (2024)

Honey-roasted sweet potatoes with cinnamon and ginger pair perfectly with our favorite lemon zest labneh recipe, finished with a generous drizzle of good olive oil and flaky sea salt!

Categories:

  • Gluten Free
  • Vegetarian
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (1)

Roasted Sweet Potatoes + Labneh: The Perfect Match

There’s nothing quite like crispy, hot, roasted sweet potatoes fresh out of the oven, except for maybe when they have been tossed in good olive oil, honey and warm spices. We enjoy oven-roasted sweet potatoes year round and this is our new favorite way to serve them.

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (2)

This is Best Sweet Potato Recipe You’ll Ever Make!

We promise, you are going to love this delicious sweet potato side dish. Here’s a little recap of everything that we've got going on that makes this the best sweet potato recipe ever:

  • Cinnamon, ground ginger, salt, and crushed red pepper flakes, oh my!
  • Honey and olive oil, for the win!
  • Labneh yogurt, made with lemon zest, salt, and your favorite plain Greek yogurt.
  • Flat leaf parsley and green onions to help this healthy oven-roasted sweet potato dish achieve over-the-top greatness!
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (3)
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (4)

How To Roast Sweet Potatoes:

Roasting vegetables is one of the easiest ways to cook them, and a great way of adding vitamins, fiber, and FLAVOR to your dinner! We love sweet potatoes baked in the oven, cut into wedges and grilled, or cubed and roasted. For this dish, we've opted for baked sweet potato cubes. Here’s the how to roast sweet potatoes in the oven:

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Mix honey, olive oil, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and red pepper flakes in a bowl.
  • Peel sweet potatoes and cut them into cubes.
  • Place the sweet potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet and toss them in the honey mixture until they're coated.
  • Bake until the potatoes are tender and slightly caramelized. How long this takes will depend on the size of the potato pieces.
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (5)
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (6)

How Long Do You Roast Sweet Potatoes?

How long you roast your sweet potatoes is entirely dependent on the size of the potato pieces you are baking. If you’re baking wedges you’ll need to cook them for 50-60 minutes. If you’re making roasted sweet potato cubes, your baking time is cut in half—roughly 25-30 minutes— which the reason we decided to call for sweet potato cubes in this recipe. The smaller you go, the less time it takes.

A few more favorite variations of sweet potatoes that we’ve cooked up in the oven :

Half-Inch Dice: Like in ourSweet Potato Tacos.

Thinly Sliced: Just like these in this Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole.

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (7)

What Is Labneh?

We'd like to introduce you to the roasted sweet potatoes' greatest sidekick, homemade labneh cheese. If you’ve already tried this thick, creamy, spreadable yogurt cheese then you know it’s what dreams are made of.

Although labneh (or lebneh) is considered a cheese, it is made simply from plain yogurt that has had some of the moisture strained out of it. It is light and refreshing with a tart and mild flavor. It has been a traditional part of Lebanese cooking for centuries, but has been widely adopted outside of Middle Eastern cuisine, as well.

Eaten much like hummus, labneh is traditionally included as a part of any mezze spread. It is often served as a dip for falafel or pita, a protein-packed breakfast with fruit, or served with olive oil and veggies for lunch. This labneh recipe is extremely versatile. We like to think of it as a healthier substitute for cream cheese or sour cream, with many additional benefits and nutrients.

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (8)
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (9)

How To Make Labneh:

Making labneh is so fun, and it's incredibly easy to prepare at home! The only “special” tool you need to make it is a clean kitchen towel. We like to use the thin, flour sack kind of towel, but if you happen to have some layers of cheesecloth or a nut milk bag, either one of these will work as well.

Step 1: Start with a tub of plain, whole milk Greek yogurt, some salt and a lemon.

Step 2: Line a colander with the towel, cheesecloth, or nut milk bag and set it over a large bowl.

Step 3: Scoop the yogurt into the lined colander and place it in the fridge to strain. The longer you strain your yogurt (up to 24 hours) the thicker it will get. We like ours soft and spreadable, so for this particular simple sweet potato and labneh recipe, we only strain it for a few hours.

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (10)

How Healthy Is This Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe?

Not only do these roast sweet potatoes with labneh taste phenomenal, it’s actually really good for you! Take these facts into consideration when planning this dish and you’ll feel great that you found such a winning combo of ‘delicious-meets-good-for-you’ food.

These healthy, oven-roasted sweet potatoes are full of nutrients, such as:

  • Lots of vitamin A!
  • Vitamin C and beta-carotene (immunity boost anyone?)
  • Fiber and potassium!
  • Vitamin B6, calcium, iron, magnesium—the list of health benefits goes on and on!

Labneh boasts:

  • More protein with fewer calories, fat, and sodium than similar dairy options like cream cheese, sour cream or creme fraiche.
  • Good-for-your-gut probiotics (another great immunity booster)!
  • Calcium!
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (11)
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (12)

Wondering What To Serve With This Roasted Sweet Potato Recipe?

So, now that we’ve convinced you to make these oven-roasted sweet potatoes with labneh cheese, you’re wondering what to serve them with, right? Well, they could be served as a light dinner in and of themselves. But they'd also be delicious served alongside these fantastic main dishes.

  1. Lamb Burger With Harissa Mayo and Pickled Red Cabbage. You can swap out the goat cheese on the burger for an extra dollop of labneh!
  2. Beef Kofta Kababs with Tzatzikipair perfectly with this sweet potato side dish.
  3. Grilled Chicken Shawarma Kebabs- say hello to your new favorite dinner!
Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (13)

In Love with these Honey-Roasted Sweet Potatoes?

Did you make and LOVE this dish? We want to see your labneh and oven roasted sweet potatoes creations! Share your handiwork with us on Instagram and tag @themodernproper and #themodernproper so we can feature you on our stories. Happy eating!

Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes Recipe with Honey and… | The Modern Proper (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak sweet potatoes before roasting? ›

The cold water bath helps rinse the starch off the sweet potatoes so they're a bit more crispy. That said, if you do not have the time, you can still get crispy baked sweet potato fries by using high heat and a little drizzle of olive oil.

What is the best healthiest way to cook sweet potatoes? ›

Boiling sweet potatoes retains more beta-carotene and makes the nutrient more absorbable than other cooking methods such as baking or frying.

What makes sweet potatoes taste better? ›

14 Ways To Add More Flavor To Sweet Potatoes
  1. Slather with cinnamon butter. Siims/Getty Images. ...
  2. Drizzle with tahini. ...
  3. Roast with savory chili sauce. ...
  4. Sprinkle on some good ol' salt and pepper. ...
  5. Pan fry with ginger and orange. ...
  6. Rub with garlic and rosemary. ...
  7. Dip in honey mustard. ...
  8. Sweeten with brown sugar and pecans.
Feb 17, 2023

Is it better to bake sweet potatoes in foil or not? ›

Wrapping the sweet potatoes in foil ensures that they don't dry out too quickly, and allows you to add aromatics if desired. Unwrapping the sweet potatoes and increasing the oven temperature produces charred, roasted flavors and caramelizes converted sugars.

What happens if you don't soak potatoes before roasting? ›

Yes! Soak the potatoes in cold water to remove the excess starch from the outside of the potato. There are a few reasons why you want to remove that starch (it makes the potatoes burn, it keeps them from crisping up, it turns to sugar) but all you really need to remember is to soak them at least one hour.

Why do you put oil on sweet potatoes before baking? ›

Extra-virgin olive oil – It adds a little richness and helps the potatoes soften and brown in the oven. And salt and pepper – They contrast wonderfully with the potatoes' natural sweetness, making the roasted sweet potatoes deliciously sweet and savory.

Can diabetics eat sweet potatoes every day? ›

You can still eat sweet potatoes if you have diabetes, assures Huff. The fiber content in sweet potatoes, especially if you consume them with the skin on, can help reduce spikes in your blood sugar. Plus, how you cook your sweet potatoes can also help reduce the extent to which your blood sugar rises.

Which kind of sweet potato is healthiest? ›

Orange sweet potatoes have been shown to increase blood levels of vitamin A more than other beta carotene sources, as they contain a highly absorbable variety of this nutrient ( 42 ). This makes eating sweet potatoes an excellent strategy against vitamin A deficiency in developing countries.

Are roasted sweet potatoes healthy? ›

Being a rich source of potassium, sweet potatoes help promote a healthy heart. Higher potassium intake helps manage sodium levels and as a result promotes healthier blood pressure, which may reduce your risk of heart disease.

What is the tastiest sweet potato? ›

For the gardener who doesn't care about looks, but is searching for taste, "Jewel" is considered the "Queen of Sweet Potatoes" and is the leading spud planted in North Carolina for commercial growers.

Why do I feel better after eating sweet potato? ›

Along with anti-inflammatory properties, sweet potatoes have plenty of gut-friendly fiber, especially if you eat the skin. They are a mixture of soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and balance glucose, and insoluble fiber, which helps keep your bowels healthy and regular.

What flavors go well with sweet potatoes? ›

Sweet potatoes pair well with apple, peach, and orange juice, and coffee - flavors that have distinctly sweet or bitter notes. The addition of cardamom or cinnamon can add a spicy twist to a co*cktail too.

Should you poke holes in sweet potatoes before baking? ›

Before baking, use a fork to prick each sweet potato several times. You don't need to jab the fork in deep. We're creating steam vents. Otherwise the pressure in the sweet potato could build up so high in the oven that it explodes—an unlikely possibility but one best avoided!

Why freeze sweet potatoes before baking? ›

The science behind using frozen sweet potatoes

“Freezing sweet potatoes before baking them results in a nice and charred exterior and the most fluffy inside, because freezing the potatoes allows their interior flesh to macerate from the inside out,” says Chin. (FYI, “macerate” is the chef word for soften.)

Do sweet potatoes get sweeter the longer you cook them? ›

Harold McGee in On Food and Cooking explains that the enzyme becomes active at around 135° and stops at around 170°. This means that if you bake your sweet potatoes low and slow, the enzyme will have more time to break down more starch and the finished potatoes will be very sweet.

What's the point of soaking potatoes before cooking? ›

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.

Should you soak potatoes in salt or sugar water? ›

Why use salt water for soaking potatoes? There's moisture naturally found in potatoes, and moisture is drawn to higher concentrations of salt. (This is a process called osmosis.) So, if you put the potatoes in a salt water bath, that will help draw out some of their moisture, resulting in crispier fries.

Why are my roasted sweet potatoes soggy? ›

Don't Overcrowd Your Baking Sheet

The secret to crispy (instead of soggy) sweet potato fries is to spread them out in an even layer with enough room so that they don't touch. This is especially important if you're making a big batch of fries.

Why do you soak sweet potatoes in water before air frying? ›

Some recipes call for soaking the sweet potatoes in water before cooking them to help remove some of the starch and make them more crispy but have found that this step isn't necessary for sweet potatoes as they don't have as much starch as regular potatoes.

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