No southern holiday meal would be complete without sweet potatoes, and this simple twist on old-fashioned candied yams, with the addition of molasses and an orange's juice and zest, tastes bright and full of nuance.
Ingredients
Unsalted butter for buttering pan
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh orange zest
1 1/4 cups fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons molasses (not robust or blackstrap)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 large sweet potatoes (2 3/4 pounds), peeled and cut lengthwise into 1-inch-wide wedges
Directions
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F. Generously butter a large (13- by 9- by 2-inch) shallow baking pan.
Heat zest, juice, molasses, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until molasses is dissolved.
Toss potatoes with molasses mixture in baking pan and arrange, cut sides down, in 1 layer. Bake, uncovered, turning over once (to other cut side), until tender and glazed, 25 to 30 minutes.
