Spiralized Sweet Potatoes and Apples with Dates
Spiralized sweet potato noodles are sauteed with apples and caramelized onions for a quick and easy dinner, especially if you purchase sweet potatoes already spiralized. Dates finish the dish off with a perfect touch of natural sweetness.
Servings: 4 entree size servings
Equipment
- Chef's knife
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 medium red onion
- 3 pounds sweet potatoes peeled
- 2 apples, Honey Crisp, Gala or Fuji work great
- 1 large navel orange, juiced (about ½ cup)
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon dried sage leaves, not ground sage
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts
- 10 dates, pitted and quartered
- ¼ cup parsley, coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Slice the red onion in half, and remove the outer skin. Trim the ends. Slice each onion half into ¼" wedges.
- Melt the butter in a large sauté pan over medium heat and add the oil and the onion wedges. Sauté until lightly caramelized, about 15 - 20 minutes.
- Pro-Tip: For best caramelization results, do not be tempted to move the onions around a great deal while they cook. Move them around after 10 minutes, and then after 5. If they aren't yet caramelized, leave them in the pan without moving them for an additional 5 minutes.
- Using a spiralizer, use the smallest blade for slender noodles. For thicker noodles, use the blade with larger holes. While the onion caramelizes, spiralize the sweet potatoes.
- Pro-Tip: The easiest way I've found to spiralize sweet potatoes is 1) slice each potato in half, widthwise. 2) Place the small end of the sweet potato on the round metal core in the blade attachment, and 3) press the prongs into the other larger end. I place a bowl under the blade to catch the noodles. Turn the crank and you have instant amber noodles.
- Heap the sweet potato noodles into the pan with the onions. Using tongs, turn them to coat with the butter/oil and caramelized onions. Don't worry if it seems like a LOT of noodles. As they cook, the pile will reduce in size.
- Add the orange juice, toss and simmer for 10 minutes, turning occasionally.
- Slice the apple, unpeeled, into 12 wedges. (Be sure to remove the core and seeds.)
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, and all of the spices including the salt and pepper. Pour over the sweet potatoes, add the apples and hemp hearts, toss, and continue to cook until the sweet potato noodles are tender - (about 5 minutes depending on the thickness of the noodles.)
- Add the dates and toss. Cook for another 2 minutes.
- Serve warm, garnished with a spray of parsley.