Simple Sides: Roasted Sweet Potato Circles

I love sweet potatoes... I'm particularly partial to the Korean/Japanese one (go goo ma -고구마) and can't eat enough of them when they are in season. I like just plain roasting them in the oven, steaming them and pureeing them, but I have to say that a new favorite of mine is cutting them into rounds, tossing them in olive oil and salt and roasting them in the oven. What ends up happening is that the salt draws out water from the potatoes, intensifying the sweetness and then roasting ends up caramelizing the sugar in the potatoes making for an a chewy sweet round. It almost tastes like candy the sweetness is so pure. And it is so simple to make.

Make sure you put the potatoes on a single layer - do not overlap - this is to ensure the maximum roasting and caramelization of your potato.

Roasted Sweet Potato Circles

1.5 lbs sweet potatoes (I like the Korean/Japanese one for its texture, but you can opt to use the standard sweet potato/yam available at your local supermarket. It will still taste very good.)
Olive oil
Salt

Preheat oven to 425.

Slice the sweet potatoes into 1/2 in rounds. Toss them in olive oil enough to coat them and lay them on a single layer in a pan. Sprinkle salt on top. Bake in oven until golden brown - about 30 minutes (or longer depending on your oven.)

These are the potatoes before being put into the oven. Note the single layer with no potatoes overlapping.

Printable recipe