Name: Roasted Sweet-Potato Rounds with Garlic Oil and Fried Sage
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 hr
Yield: Makes 8 servings
Ingredients: 3 large garlic cloves; 1/4 cup olive oil; 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds; 1/3 cup olive oil; 24 sage leaves

Discs of sweet potato on a large platter topped with fried sage leaves.

Roasted Sweet-Potato Rounds with Garlic Oil and Fried SageJohn Kernick

Food editor Shelley Wiseman thinks sweet potatoes are naturally sweet enough when caramelized in the oven, so she eschewed brown sugar and "savorized" them instead with garlic oil. Sage leaves—too potent and fuzzy to eat fresh but mellow when fried—serve as a lovely garnish for this autumnal side dish.

Cooks notes:

•Sweet potatoes can be cut and tossed with garlic oil 4 hours ahead and chilled in a sealable bag.
•Sage leaves can be fried 4 hours ahead and kept at room temperature.

Recipe information

Total Time
1 hr
Yield
Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

For sweet potatoes:

3 large garlic cloves

1/4 cup olive oil

2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch-thick rounds

For fried sage:

1/3 cup olive oil

24 sage leaves

Preparation

Roast sweet potatoes:
Step 1
Preheat oven 450°F with rack in upper third.
Step 2
Purée garlic with oil and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a blender until smooth. Toss sweet potatoes with garlic oil in a large bowl, then spread in 1 layer in a 15-by 10-inch shallow baking pan.
Step 3
Bake until golden in patches and cooked through, 20 to 30 minutes.
To fry sage leaves:
Step 4
Heat oil in a small heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then fry sage leaves in 2 batches, stirring, until crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute per batch. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.
Step 5
Serve sweet potatoes with sage leaves scattered on top.