Introduction of Sweet Potato Salad
Sweet potato salad is a perfect dish to serve at any gathering or as a meal at home. This dish is easy to make and provides a variety of flavors and textures that everyone will love. The addition of candied walnuts adds a sweet and crunchy element that complements the roasted sweet potatoes perfectly. In this article, we’ll take you through the steps of creating a delicious roasted sweet potato salad with candied walnuts.
Ingredients for making Sweet Potato Salad
Before we get started with the recipe, let’s gather all the ingredients we need:
- 3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup candied walnuts
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach
Instructions
Now that we have all our ingredients, let’s get started with the recipe:
Step 1: Roast the sweet potatoes
Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C). Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into small pieces and place them in a large bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the sweet potatoes, season with salt and pepper to taste, and toss everything together to make sure the sweet potatoes are coated evenly.
Spread the sweet potatoes out on a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast the sweet potatoes in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until they are tender and slightly crispy. Remove them from the oven and set them aside to cool.
Step 2: Make the candied walnuts
While the sweet potatoes are roasting, we can prepare the candied walnuts. Heat a small saucepan over medium-high heat and add the candied walnuts. Stir them around for 2-3 minutes or until they are lightly toasted and fragrant.
Next, add 1 tablespoon of water to the pan and stir in the walnuts until the water has evaporated. Add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the pan and stir it until the sugar has melted and coated the walnuts. Remove the walnuts from the heat and set them aside to cool.
Step 3: Assemble the salad
Once the sweet potatoes and candied walnuts have cooled, it’s time to assemble the salad. In a large bowl, combine the roasted sweet potatoes, candied walnuts, dried cranberries, crumbled feta cheese, and baby spinach.
Toss everything together until the salad is evenly mixed and coated in the olive oil and brown sugar from the candied walnuts. Serve the salad immediately or refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve.
Tips for Making the Perfect Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Candied Walnuts
- Make sure the sweet potatoes are chopped into small, bite-sized pieces to ensure they cook evenly.
- Use a non-stick baking sheet or parchment paper to prevent the sweet potatoes from sticking to the pan.
- Feel free to experiment with different nuts, such as pecans or almonds, for the candied nuts.
- If you prefer a sweeter salad, you can add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup to the salad dressing.
- This salad can be served warm or cold.
