Skip to main content

Glazed Sweet Potatoes With Lentils

5.0

(3)

Image may contain Plant Food Produce Lentil Vegetable and Bean
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown

Tearing the sweet potatoes isn't just fun—it creates more surface area to char and lacquer with a spicy maple-soy glaze.  And good news for meal-preppers: You can roast these sweet potatoes and marinate your lentils five days ahead.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 Servings

Ingredients

2 large or 3 medium sweet potatoes (1½–2 lb. total)
1 cup lentils, preferably black beluga or French green
Kosher salt
6 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 Tbsp. unseasoned rice vinegar, divided
4 scallions
2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. white miso
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tsp. mild red pepper flakes, plus more for serving
Coarsely chopped toasted pistachios (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 425°. Roast sweet potatoes on a rimmed baking sheet until tender, 45–55 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes.

    Step 2

    Cook lentils in a medium pot of boiling salted water until tender but not falling apart, 20–30 minutes. Drain; let cool 10 minutes.

    Step 3

    Toss lentils in a medium bowl with 4 Tbsp. olive oil and 2 Tbsp. vinegar. Season with salt.

    Step 4

    Trim scallions and cut crosswise into 3" lengths. Slice each piece into very thin matchsticks. Place in a small bowl and pour in cold water to cover; set aside.

    Step 5

    Whisk maple syrup, soy sauce, miso, sesame oil, 1 tsp. red pepper flakes, remaining 2 Tbsp. vinegar, and ¼ cup water in a small bowl. Set glaze aside.

    Step 6

    Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Slice or tear sweet potatoes into 2" pieces; cook, turning, until deeply browned on several sides, 5–7 minutes. Remove from heat and add reserved glaze (it may spatter a bit). Set over medium heat; cook, spooning glaze over, until thick enough to coat a spoon, about 1 minute.

    Step 7

    Scrape sweet potatoes and glaze onto a platter. Drain scallions; pat dry. Toss two thirds into lentils; spoon around potatoes. Top with nuts, remaining scallions, and more red pepper flakes.

    Step 8

    Do ahead: Sweet potatoes can be roasted and lentils cooked and dressed 5 days ahead. Let cool. Cover and chill separately.

Read More
Charred purple potato salad with mayo, lemon, and soy is smoky, creamy, and designed to be the star of any summer picnic or barbecue.
With salty-sweet miso butter, chives, and savory flakes of nori, this cheesy sweet potato gratin recipe bears little resemblance to traditional versions.
A good garlic mashed potato recipe can upstage even the flashiest of mains. Adding just a few cloves of garlic turns what could be a simple side dish into something with undeniable charm.
Fully loaded, meal-prep friendly, and ready to be dressed up, down, or sideways.
Roasted squash loses its bland reputation and turns glossy and fragrant thanks to a gingery miso-glaze and a quick scallion oil.
Slowly roasting purple sweet potatoes in a sticky-sweet mixture of brown sugar and spices gives them a glossy sheen that’s as stunning as it is flavorful.
An accidental recipe (sbagliatio means mistaken in Italian) yields a delicious herby tahini dressing that is excellent poured over lightly blanched green beans.
Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.