Air Fryer Sweet Potato features sweet potato halves seasoned with spices such as cumin, paprika, and Himalayan pink salt. Drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, these halves get caramelized in the air fryer with minimal effort. The air fryer intensifies the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes, resulting in a beautiful, crisp exterior. They are so tender on the inside, making every bite irresistible as a side dish or a healthy snack. Served with a homemade mint tahini, this snack comes together in 20 minutes and can be easily made for a large gathering!
I enjoyed grilled sweet potatoes with cilantro tahini as a snack by the beach in the Caribbean. I wanted to tweak it by making them with mint tahini. They had used Scotch bonnet chilis that made the dish spicy. I recreated the dish with two simple spices from my pantry. But the explosion of flavors emanating from the sweet potatoes and the mint tahini is amazing. My family loves the texture of the sweet potatoes, which are crunchy and crispy around the edges and soft and tender on the inside.
Benefits of sweet potatoes:
Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, vitamins A and C, manganese, etc. From boosting brain functions and immunity to better eye health, these orange or purple vegetables are a true star in the kitchen. I usually choose colorful ones, such as orange or purple sweet potatoes. With so many varieties in grocery stores, one cannot go wrong in choosing them.
Variations:
Some variations of roasted or air-fried sweet potatoes that I have tried:
- Toss the sweet potato halves or wedges with cinnamon and brown sugar.
- Try rubbing sweet potato wedges with garlic powder and rosemary or thyme.
- Spice it up using Cajun seasoning with some cayenne pepper.
- Glaze the sweet potato fingers with maple syrup and dust with cinnamon.
- After air frying them, crumble some feta cheese and drizzle some lemon juice.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Should I wash sweet potatoes before air frying or roasting them?
Sweet potatoes must be rinsed and scrubbed with a vegetable brush to remove dirt and then wiped clean with a paper towel.
2. Do sweet potatoes need space between them while air frying or baking them?
Sweet potatoes need at least an inch of space on the baking tray to allow hot airflow to circulate and cook them evenly.
3. Do I need to soak the sweet potatoes before cooking them?
Soaking the sweet potatoes in cold water helps remove some of the starch. For this recipe, soaking for 5 minutes in cold water with the cut side down will suffice.
4. Does wrapping the sweet potato in foil and air frying help in any way?
If you wish to bake the whole sweet potato, then wrapping them in foil helps seal the moisture and allow them to steam. But for this Air Fryer Sweet Potato recipe, I did not wrap them in foil but air-fried them with the cut sides facing up.
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Ingredients:
For the sweet potato:
- Sweet potato: orange sweet potato (feel free to use any color)
- Spices: paprika and cumin
- Garnish: dill or thyme
For the mint tahini:
- Mint tahini: mint leaves, chili, lemon juice, garlic, sesame seeds, and olive oil
How to make Air Fryer Sweet Potato:
- Rub the spices and salt on the cut side of the sweet potato halves. Drizzle olive oil on top. (I scoured or made slits on the sweet potato halves). Arrange the sweet potato halves on a foil-lined tray and air fry them at 415 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until slightly charred on the edges.
2. Meanwhile, make the mint tahini by grinding the toasted sesame seeds in a spice grinder. Add the remaining ingredients and grind until slightly coarse.
3. Serve the sweet potato halves with a drizzle of mint tahini on top and garnish with parsley, dill or thyme.
1. Dry roasting or toasting the sesame for 1-2 minutes brings out the nuttiness of the seeds, but it is important not to burn them. Grind the sesame seeds first before adding the rest of the ingredients while making the mint tahini.
2. Scouring or making small slits on the sweet potato halves speeds up the cooking time.
3. Please watch your sweet potatoes towards the last five minutes of cooking time. A few extra minutes can make them crispy and charred at the edges.
Serving suggestion:
I served the Air fryer Sweet Potato with mint tahini, garnished with curly parsley. Serve the mint tahini on the side as a dip.
Storage:
The Air fryer Sweet Potato can be refrigerated for 4-5 days. The mint tahini can be frozen for 3 months. Freeze any leftover sweet potato in airtight, freezer-safe containers for 2-3 months.
Other sweet potato and tahini recipes that you might like:
Air Fryer Sweet Potato
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
For the air fryer sweet potatoes:
- 3 sweet potato medium
- 2 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tsp cumin ground
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- ¾ tsp Himalayan pink salt
- 4 sprig thyme optional, for garnish
For the mint tahini:
- 2 tbsp white sesame seed toasted
- 1 green chili
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ cup mint chopped
- 3 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
Instructions
How to air fry the sweet potato:
- Prepare the ingredients. Scrub, wash, and cut the sweet potatoes into halves longitudinally.
- Rub the spices and salt on the cut side of the sweet potato halves. Drizzle olive oil on top. (I scoured or made slits on the sweet potato halves). Arrange the sweet potato halves on a foil-lined tray and air fry them at 415 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until slightly charred on the edges.
How to make the mint tahini:
- Prepare the ingredients. Toast the sesame seeds in a pan for 1-2 minutes.
- Make the mint tahini by grinding the toasted sesame seeds in a spice grinder. Add the remaining ingredients and grind until slightly coarse.
- Serve the sweet potato halves with a drizzle of mint tahini on top and garnish with parsley, dill, or thyme.
Notes
Nutrition
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Tasty, and very healthy for you as well!
Oh yes, this is a very healthy snack! Thanks, DeChanze!
when I made this at home, it turned out great! love the mint tahini sauce
Thanks, I too love the mint tahini sauce!
olive oil is a great substitute as well!
Great snack, thanks Kanchan!