Description
Mediterranean-inspired Roasted Sweet Potato Salad brings sunshine onto your plate with golden caramelized potatoes, creamy feta, and zesty herb dressing. Fresh ingredients dance together, creating a light yet satisfying meal perfect for warm afternoons or fresh lunch options.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cups sweet potatoes, cubed and peeled
- 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
- 1/3 cup dried cherries, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
Dressing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
- 4 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon lime zest, grated
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Cooking Ingredient:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F, preparing a baking sheet with parchment paper or light cooking spray for optimal roasting.
- Distribute sweet potato cubes evenly across the baking sheet, ensuring each piece is lightly coated with olive oil to promote caramelization.
- Roast the sweet potatoes for 30-45 minutes, rotating the pan midway to guarantee uniform browning and tender texture.
- While potatoes roast, carefully toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning and release their rich, nutty flavor.
- Allow roasted sweet potatoes to cool to room temperature, which helps maintain their structural integrity and prevents wilting of additional ingredients.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, gently combine the cooled sweet potato cubes, fragrant toasted walnuts, vibrant dried cherries, and freshly chopped parsley.
- Create a creamy dressing by whisking mayonnaise, white vinegar, honey, delicate lime zest, and a pinch of salt until smooth and well-integrated.
- Drizzle the dressing over the sweet potato mixture, using a gentle folding technique to ensure even coating without crushing the ingredients.
- Serve immediately for a warm, comforting salad or chill for 30 minutes to develop deeper flavor profiles and enjoy as a refreshing cold side dish.
Notes
- Customize roasting time based on sweet potato size and desired caramelization for perfectly tender and golden cubes.
- Swap walnuts with pecans or almonds for different nutty flavors and textures, accommodating nut allergies or preferences.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise to create a lighter, protein-rich dressing that reduces calories while maintaining creamy consistency.
- Prepare salad ahead of time and store in refrigerator for up to 2 days, allowing flavors to meld and develop a more intense taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 118 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 3 mg