Crispy Smashed Sweet Potatoes (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
01 -
Extra virgin olive oil for greasing
02 -
4 medium sweet potatoes, washed and sliced into thick rounds
03 -
2¼ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
04 -
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
05 -
2 teaspoons dried Italian herb blend
06 -
2 fresh garlic cloves, finely grated
07 -
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
08 -
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
09 -
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
# Instructions:
01 -
Heat your oven to 450°F and lightly coat two large baking sheets with olive oil. This prevents sticking and helps create that golden crust we're after.
02 -
Place your sweet potato rounds in a big pot and cover them with cold water, making sure there's about an inch of water above the potatoes. Add 2 teaspoons of salt and bring everything to a rolling boil. Let them cook for about 5 minutes until they're tender when poked with a fork, then drain completely.
03 -
While the potatoes are still warm, whisk together the melted butter, remaining salt, Italian seasoning, grated garlic, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl until well combined.
04 -
Arrange the drained sweet potatoes on your prepared baking sheets. Drizzle the seasoned butter mixture all over them, making sure each piece gets coated. Now comes the fun part - gently press down on each potato with the bottom of a glass or measuring cup to flatten them slightly.
05 -
Sprinkle the grated Parmesan evenly over all the smashed potatoes. Slide both pans into the oven and bake for 30 minutes, swapping the pans between racks and rotating them halfway through to ensure even browning.
06 -
Remove from the oven when they're beautifully golden and crispy around the edges. Let them cool for just a few minutes before serving - they'll be incredibly hot!
# Notes:
01 -
For best results, choose longer, thinner sweet potatoes as they're much easier to slice and handle during preparation.
02 -
The key to getting crispy edges is making sure your sweet potatoes are well-drained after boiling and that your oven is fully preheated.