The holidays are almost here, which means it’s nearly time for the best part of Thanksgiving dinner… the side dishes 🙂 . Seriously, if you peek at your Thanksgiving dinner plate, that bird takes up a tiny portion of the plate, alongside loads and loads of your favorite side dishes. We have some great sides that you can try this year, like our butternut squash blossom, which could be your centerpiece. Or check out plenty more down the page… Personally I love something sweet and savory along with my turkey. Anything with sweet potatoes is my favorite. From mash to casseroles to fries to chunks… aren’t they yum? These roasted chunks just need a quick sweet and savory glaze to make them a holiday worthy contender.
To make this easy Thanksgiving side, all you need is the following…
Sweet potatoesMaple syrupPecansGarlicGingerOnionRed chili flakesOlive oilSalt & Pepper
How do you make these spiced maple glazed sweet potatoes?
The first step is to peel the sweet potatoes and cut them uniformly into bite size chunks, so they cook evenly. Some people might prefer skin, but we make it without. In a large bowl, mix in these chunks with generous olive oil along with salt and pepper. Bake in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes. Stir the sweet potatoes half way through the baking time so they cook evenly and don’t burn. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, heat olive oil on low to medium heat and sauté ginger, garlic and chopped onion for a couple of minutes. Add in chili flakes and stir in maple syrup and stir for a minute. Add in pecans and cook, stirring, till it thickens up a bit into a glaze. All that’s left once the potatoes come out of the oven is to plate them out on a serving dish or bowl and pour on this beautiful glaze, along with pecans, over the perfectly roasted sweet potatoes. It looks great and tastes best when you dig into that delicious tasting sweet potato chunk.
Some variations
This easy dish doesn’t require too much to say. There is so much cooking happening on these special days that I thought I will give you an easy one. Yeah, I care about you like that. These sweet potatoes are simple, undemanding and still spell festive. Try them this holiday season alongside your turkey or ham, or maybe my pork pinwheels. Eat… drink… and Be Thankful!! Happy Holidays…
Chili Maple Glazed Sweet Potatoes, on my Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
Try these other great sides on your holiday spread!Southern Squash CasseroleGoat Cheese Mashed PotatoesThanksgiving Kale SaladGreen Rice CasseroleRoasted Brussels SproutsCherry Tomato GratinSuccotash You can replace onions with shallots or scallions. To add some herby notes, add in some chopped rosemary or thyme to the maple glaze while simmering. Garnish it with some fresh green herbs like rosemary, thyme or parsley. You can try the same recipe with carrots or butternut squash.
