ROASTED SWEET POTATO SALAD

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad combines the natural sweetness of sweet potatoes, crunchy pecans, and creamy feta cheese, all enhanced by a zesty honey lemon dressing! This simple salad recipe is not only a delightful side but can also serve as a light main course.

This sweet potato spinach salad is perfect for any occasion, whether as a hearty lunch option or a delightful side at dinner. The addition of brown sugar sweet potatoes elevates the salad, making it an irresistible dish that is sure to please!

Simple & Healthy Dish – Sweet Potato Salad

I absolutely adore baked sweet potatoes and roasting them is one of my favorite ways to cook them. When baked they are soft and tender, but with a little bit crisp on the outside and have the best flavor. They’re great for side dishes or lunch as sweet potatoes are high in protein and fiber as well as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B6. Sweet potatoes even contain iron and protein!

This dish is not just flavorful, the vibrant colors and textures make it visually appealing as well. Serve it up as your next side dish at dinner or healthy lunch option and taste for yourself just how amazing it is!

Why you’ll love this Spinach Salad Recipe

• Amazing taste & texture. This roasted sweet potato salad combines textures and flavors that create a delightful dish. The sweetness of the caramelized sweet potatoes complements the salty feta cheese beautifully. The addition of crunchy pecans adds a satisfying contrast to the tender greens.
• Healthy and delicious. Using simple, wholesome ingredients ensures this dish is not only tasty but also packed with nutrients. The combination of spinach and sweet potatoes provides essentials like vitamins A and C.
• Versatile. This salad can be served warm or cold, providing versatility in how it is enjoyed. It works as a side or a light main dish, and is suitable for various occasions.

Ingredients for Roasted Sweet Potato Salad

Sweet potatoes: You will need about 2 pounds of sweet potatoes, your preferred variety will work great.

Olive oil: Use 1 TBSP of good quality extra virgin olive oil for roasting the potatoes. Avocado oil works great too!

Brown sugar: 1 TBSP of brown sugar adds a nice extra sweetness and caramelization to the sweet potatoes.

Ground cinnamon: Add in ½ tsp of ground cinnamon.

Salad Items

Baby spinach leaves: You need 4 cups of lightly packed baby spinach, or a variety of mixed lettuce leaves.

Feta cheese: Use ½ cup of Greek feta in this salad recipe.

Pecans: Whole pecans add a nice crunch to the salad, add in ½ cup.

Honey Lemon Dressing

Olive oil: Use ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil, or your preferred oil suitable for salad dressings.

Lemon juice: 1 TBSP of lemon juice from a fresh lemon tastes best in the dressing, however bottled lemon juice can be used if that’s what you have available.

Honey: Adding 2 tsp of honey gives just the right amount of sweetness to this dressing.

Thyme: You’ll want to use 1 tsp of fresh thyme leaves, or dried thyme if preferred.

Salt and pepper: Used for seasoning both the roasted sweet potatoes and the salad dressing.

HOW TO MAKE ROASTED SWEET POTATO SALAD

Prep

Preheat the oven to 390°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper, then set them aside.

Chop the sweet potatoes into 1″ cubes. I like to keep the skin on my potatoes, but you can peel them if you’d like.

Roast the Potatoes

Add the chopped sweet potatoes to a large mixing bowl along with the olive oil, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon. Stir until well combined and the potatoes are coated. Spread the sweet potatoes over the baking sheets in a single layer and roast in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until cooked through. When done, set them aside to cool completely.

Salad dressing

In a small mixing bowl combine the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, and dried thyme. Stir with a whisk or fork until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Assemble

Begin assembling the salad by adding the cooled sweet potatoes, crumbled feta, baby spinach leaves, and pecans to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the ingredients and mix until well combined.  Transfer to a large salad bowl for serving or serve straight from the mixing bowl.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips and tricks for making this salad recipe

• If you don’t have any parchment paper, the baking sheets can be sprayed with a non-stick cooking spray.
• The skin was left on the sweet potatoes in this recipe, however the sweet potatoes can be peeled if preferred.
• The sweet potato can be roasted without the brown sugar and ground cinnamon if preferred. Just coat them with the olive oil and roast as indicated by the directions.
• Lightly toast the pecans to add a deeper flavor to the salad.

How long is this salad good for & how do you store it?

The roasted sweet potato salad remains fresh for about 3-4 days when stored properly in the refrigerator. It is best to keep the salad in an airtight container to maintain its quality and prevent wilting.

What are some suitable alternatives to extra virgin olive oil for roasting sweet potatoes?

Several oils can be used in place of extra virgin olive oil, including avocado oil, canola oil, or grapeseed oil. Each alternative provides a unique flavor and maintains a high smoke point suitable for roasting.

How can brown sugar be substituted for a healthier option?

For a healthier option, maple syrup or coconut sugar can serve as suitable substitutes for brown sugar. These alternatives offer sweetness with fewer processed ingredients and can contribute to the caramelization of the sweet potatoes.

What are some creative additions to roasted sweet potato salad?

To enhance the salad’s flavor, consider adding roasted chickpeas, diced apples, or cranberries. Additionally, spices like smoked paprika or cumin can add depth and complexity, making the dish more interesting.

Are oven roasted sweet potatoes healthy?

Yes, sweet potatoes are healthy! Sweet potatoes are high in protein and fiber as well as vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B6. Sweet potatoes even contain iron and protein. They have no fat or cholesterol and a medium sized sweet potato only has about 120 calories.

This recipe does call for a little bit of olive oil, cinnamon and brown sugar, but just enough to add a lot of flavor without packing on a lot of calories.

More sweet potato recipes to try:

• BROWN SUGAR ROASTED SWEET POTATOES
• SWEET POTATO SPOON BREAD
• MASHED SWEET POTATOES WITH MAPLE CINNAMON BUTTER
• SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
• APPLE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE WITH MARSHMALLOWS
• PINEAPPLE SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
• SLOW COOKER SWEET POTATOES & CRANBERRIES
• MAPLE SWEET POTATO PIE
• PINEAPPLE SWEET POTATO CUPS
• BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES
• MAPLE PECAN SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
• CURRIED SWEET POTATO CHOWDER
• SWEET POTATO BISCUITS
• CLASSIC SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad is made with sweet potatoes that have been coated in cinnamon and brown sugar and then roasted to perfection. This simple salad recipe is simple enough to enjoy regularly, and fancy enough to serve at an elegant dinner!