Harissa-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Red Onion

Published Oct. 14, 2022

Harissa-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Red Onion
Bobbi Lin for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
35 minutes
Rating
5(880)
Comments
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This simple salad is powered by two naturally sweet vegetables –  sweet potato and red onion – but harissa, the popular north African spice paste, balances everything out. Harissa adds more than just a subtle heat to a dish; it injects smokiness, tang, richness and overall intrigue. When shopping, look for harissa that has a deep, brick-red color, a thick consistency and dried red chiles listed as one of the first ingredients. Cutting the sweet potatoes into wedges creates sharp edges so that they get crispy and golden in the oven. This dish is easily adaptable, and simple to make into a complete meal by adding roasted chickpeas, cooked lentils or grilled radicchio. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 3medium sweet potatoes, washed and trimmed, (about 1½ pounds)
  • 3medium red onions, peeled and trimmed (about 1 pound)
  • 2tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2tablespoons harissa paste, plus more for serving
  • 1teaspoon ground cumin
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • ½lemon
  • 3ounces feta, crumbled (optional)
  • Handful of cilantro or mint leaves
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

273 calories; 12 grams fat; 4 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 6 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 37 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 10 grams sugars; 7 grams protein; 776 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 425 degrees. Cut each sweet potato in half lengthwise, then in half again (you should have 4 segments), then slice each segment into 3 or 4 wedges, so they are about ½ inch thick. Place them on a sheet pan.

  2. Step 2

    Cut the red onion in half and slice into ½-inch-thick pieces, similar in size to the sweet potato. Place on the sheet pan with the sweet potato.

  3. Step 3

    Drizzle with olive oil and add the harissa paste, cumin, 1 teaspoon of salt and a few pinches of black pepper. Using a large spoon (or clean hands), toss everything together until the sweet potatoes and onions are well coated, arranging everything in a single layer.

  4. Step 4

    Place in the oven and roast for 10 minutes. Remove the sheet pan from the oven, carefully toss and return to the oven for 15 to 18 minutes, until the sweet potato is tender and crispy around the edges.

  5. Step 5

    To serve, squeeze over the juice from the lemon half. Taste and season with more salt and black pepper, if needed. Top with the feta, if using, a dollop of harissa and finish with a handful of cilantro or mint leaves.

Ratings

5 out of 5
880 user ratings
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Comments

I had a powdered Harissa so I made the paste by adding EVOO to about 3 tbsps of the powder. It came out great. Next time - and there will be a next time - I will mix everything in a large bowl and then transfer the well coated potatoes and onions onto the sheet pan.

Didn’t have harissa. So did what a good South Indian would do, ground fresh ginger, pearl onions, dry red chilies and a green chilly into a paste and used it. It came out great.

Scaled down for one sweet potato and half a red onion. Yum yum yum! Delicious. Will make again. Had mild harissa which was fine. Feta and cilantro were definitely a plus.

Added some sauteed greens + black beans + two fried eggs for a full meal. Herbs are a must!

Simple meal. I used harissa powder instead because that's what was available. It was fun, but probably don't need to make it again.

I made this the other night. It was spicy and delicious. I did not have Feta so I skipped it but I also tried a couple of bites before adding the lemon juice and mint. Don't skip the lemon juice and mint as it changed the flavor complexity and really made the dish delicious.

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