Description
Roasted sweet potato slices with candied bacon and pecans blend Southern comfort with gourmet flair. Crispy bacon and caramelized nuts create a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch (2.54 cm) cubes
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon
- ½ cup (60 g) pecans, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- ¼ cup (50 g) brown sugar
- 2 tbsps maple syrup or honey
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Fresh thyme leaves
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to 400F (200C) and line a spacious baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal roasting conditions.
- Potato Preparation: Slice sweet potatoes into precise cubes, coating thoroughly with olive oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper to ensure maximum flavor absorption.
- Initial Roasting: Distribute sweet potato cubes on the baking sheet in a single, uncrowded layer, promoting crispy exterior development and preventing moisture buildup. Roast for 20 minutes, then gently redistribute for even caramelization.
- Bacon Transformation: Simultaneously, arrange bacon slices on a foil-lined sheet, generously dusting with brown sugar to create a glossy, caramelized exterior. Bake alongside potatoes for 15-20 minutes, monitoring closely to achieve perfect crispness.
- Nut Enhancement: Leverage the bacon-glazed baking sheet to toast pecans, stirring periodically to develop a rich, toasted flavor without scorching.
- Final Assembly: Transfer roasted sweet potatoes to a serving vessel, artfully scattering chopped candied bacon and toasted pecans across the surface.
- Finishing Touch: Elevate the dish with a delicate maple syrup or honey drizzle, complemented by an optional sprinkle of fresh thyme leaves for an aromatic flourish.
Notes
- Optimize Potato Cutting: Slice sweet potatoes into uniform 1-inch cubes for consistent cooking, preventing undercooked or burnt sections.
- Prevent Soggy Roasting: Space potato pieces widely on baking sheet to ensure crispy edges and caramelized surfaces, avoiding steaming effect.
- Master Bacon Candying: Watch bacon closely during sugar coating to achieve perfect caramelization without burning, creating crunchy sweet-savory pieces.
- Enhance Nutty Flavors: Toast pecans carefully, stirring frequently to develop deep, rich flavors without scorching, maximizing their natural buttery essence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg