Simple, Fun and Delicious Sweetpotatoes – Blogger Contest Inspiration

The No More Mallows Blogger Recipe Contest is in full swing, and I just want to say….Keep those recipe’s coming in, bloggers! I am always amazed to see how creative the contest entries are.  But with an ingredient like sweetpotatoes, it is hard not to be inspired.  As I pointed out in the last post, our sassy sweets really do lend themselves to any recipe, and not just as a mere ingredient, but as the star!  From Breakfast, to Dessert, this superfood can do it all.  All while providing you with more antioxidants than you can poke a stick at.  That’s probably why Health Writers at the Washington Post said they provide a health boost that can help prevent all sort of woes, including wrinkles. How’s that for awesome!

It’s easy to put together a delish dish, without breaking the bank on exotic ingredients. And you don’t have to be a master chef either.  As a matter of fact, most cooks that I know would prefer to keep it simple in the kitchen. But that doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice flavor. Take a look at this Sweetpotato Salad. It only takes a few minutes, but wow does it pack a lot of flavor…Pistachios add a little crunch, cherries add a hint of tartness to balance the natural sweetness of the main ingredient, spring greens add a hint of bitterness and a balsamic vinaigrette rounds everything out.  But here’s the most important part – the sweetpotatoes are allowed to shine.  No syrupy sauce or gooey marshmallow topping needed here, thank you very much. 

PS As a Southern Girl, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that toasted pecans work equally well in this dish.  Have fun cooking and be sure to send in your creation, it might just be a winner!

Roasted Sweetpotato Salad with Greens,  Pistachios and Cherries
 Ingredients
2 pounds North Carolina Sweetpotatoes
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1/4 cup of your favorite herbed or balsamic vinegar
Freshly ground salt and pepper to taste
6 cups spring mix greens
1/2 cup Dried Cherries
5 ounces goat cheese, thinly sliced (optional)
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pistachios
Instructions
Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes
 
Preheat oven to 425°F. Peel yams and cut into 3/4-inch chunks. Place on a baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon oil. Roast for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly browned. Remove from oven and whisk together remaining oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add greens and cherries and toss lightly. Immediately add hot yams to bowl and toss again. Place in 6 salad bowls and top each with goat cheese, if desired. Sprinkle with pistachios. Makes 6 servings.