Name: Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Herbs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 6 medium sweet potatoes; 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs (ex. Italian); ⅓ teaspoon garlic and onion granules (each); ⅓ teaspoon fine sea salt and pepper (each); 4 tablespoons olive or vegetable oil; Zest of half a lemon

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These hasselback sweet potatoes with herbs transform this simple vegetable into a delicious, impressive side dish, perfect for any occasion.

Vegan Hasselback sweet potatoes on dark brown oven tray.

These hasselback sweet potatoes are infused with herbs, easy to make, gluten and dairy free and full of flavour.

Sweet potatoes are a delicious vegetable however you choose to prepare them. But this is one of the best methods of cooking sweet potatoes I've ever come across.

What are hasselback sweet potatoes

Hasselback potatoes are a Swedish invention dating back to the 1950s. The name comes from the restaurant they were created in. It is such an ingenious yet simple concept it's surprising no one had thought of it earlier.

The hasselback preparation method involves thinly slicing sweet potatoes along their width 3 quarters of the way through so the slices are held at the base. This allows to coat the sweet potato with herbs and spices in between the slices rather than just over the top.

As a result the sweet potato is infused with flavour while still holding its shape. This is absolutely worth doing and so much better than just sticking a whole sweet potato in the oven!

Ingredients

Sweet potatoes.
Dried herbs: I used ready mixed Italian herbs, but you can use any dried herb mixture.
Olive oil.
Garlic and onion granules: add flavour.
Lemon zest: adds a hint of refreshing citrus.
Fine sea salt and pepper.

What other ingredients can be used

Sweet potatoes hasselback-style can be prepared using lots of different ingredients. You could use:

garlic butter
breadcrumbs or almonds for crunch
cheese, such as parmesan
spices, such as curry powder, harissa, cajun or chipotle.

What you will need

Vegetable scrubber/brush
Basting brush
Zester
2 wooden/plastic spoons
Medium size baking sheet or shallow roasting pan

Step-by-step recipe instructions

1.Preheat the oven to 400 F/ 200 C/fan 190 C/ gas mark 6.

Scrub your sweet potatoes to remove some of the skin and soften it.

2. Next place the sweet potato in between 2 plastic/wooden spoons and cut into thin slices (approx. ¼ inch thick) ⅔ of the way down.

3. Combine the herb dressing ingredients and using approx. half of the mixture drizzle over the sweet potatoes, ensuring it gets in between the slices (use a basting brush to do this).

4. Bake in the centre of the oven for about 40-45 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender. Halfway through cooking drizzle over the rest of the mixture. If the potatoes start to brown too much cover loosely with baking paper.

Close-up view of vegan Hasselback sweet potatoes on dark brown oven tray.

5. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Serving suggestions

Hasselback-style sweet potatoes go just about with anything! They can accompany any centrepiece (whether meat, fish or vegetarian) and are simply ideal for the holiday season.

Leftover hasselback sweet potatoes can be served cold with crunchy salad or coleslaw, alternatively chopped up and combined with pasta, fresh herbs and a little oil for a light meal idea.

How long should I bake hasselbacked sweet potatoes

Baking times will vary depending on the size and shape of your sweet potatoes. So always check (with a fork) they are sufficiently tender before removing from the oven. You may need to loosely cover larger sweet potatoes towards the end of cooking to prevent them browning too much on top.

Top tips and FAQs

I recommend using medium size, round rather than thin sweet potatoes. It will be easier to coat them with the herb dressing without separating the slices.
Use a vegetable scrubber or brush to remove some of the tough skin from the sweet potato before cutting it.
Use your favourite herb combination, not necessarily my suggestions.
Take care when slicing the ends of the potatoes as the knife may slice all the way through.
If your sweet potatoes start to brown too much in the oven cover them loosely with parchment paper and continue baking until tender.
Best served immediately.
Freeze your hasselback sweet potatoes, once completely cooled, in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Why not check out also these other delicious side dish recipe ideas!

Keep in touch!

If you make this hasselback sweet potato recipe I'd love to know how it turned out for you? What herbs did you use? Let me know in the comments below, thanks!

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Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Herbs