Grown Local in NC!

You may or may not know this, but North Carolina is the #1 producer of sweet potatoes in the United States! Buying local produce is vital to supporting local farms and farmers and in turn also helps to support your local economy. There are many ways to use and prepare sweet potatoes. These root veggies can be used as a side dish, dessert, snack, and part of breakfast or the center piece of a meal. Sweet potatoes are not just simple starches; sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, beta carotene or vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6, copper, riboflavin, pantothetic acid and folic acid.

Try this recipe for a variation of Sweet Potato Fries this week- Serve them up Cajun or Spiced style! 

Spiced or Cajun Sweet Potato Oven Fries

Serves 6, 8-10 fries per serving 

Cajun-Ingredients

  • 4 medium sweet potatoes (Sweet potatoes are in season in North Carolina and can be found at almost any local farmers market.)
  • 1½ teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil

Spiced- Ingredients

  • 4 medium sweet potatoes (Sweet potatoes are in season in North Carolina and can be found at almost any local farmers market.)
  • 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Rinse sweet potatoes.
  3. Leaving skin on, cut sweet potatoes into thick French fry strips, about ½-inch wide.
  4. Cajun seasoning: Mix paprika, salt, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper in small mixing bowl. Spiced Seasoning: Mix cinnamon, black pepper, and garlic salt in a small mixing bowl to make .
  5. Transfer sweet potato pieces into a bowl. Add olive oil and seasoning and toss until sweet potato pieces are coated on all sides.
  6. Place sweet potato pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes.
  7. Turn fries over and bake another 10-15 minutes, until fries are soft.

Notes

  • For easier cleanup, line the baking sheet with a layer of aluminum foil, before cooking the sweet potatoes.
  • Increase or decrease the amount of cayenne pepper in the Cajun seasoning to make it milder or spicier.
  • When handling the Cajun seasoning, be careful not to touch your face or eyes.
  • Try using honey mustard dip on the side with your finished sweet potatoes.