
Roasted sweet potatoes take mere minutes to prep. Just toss them with olive oil, salt and Chinese 5-spice powder before sliding them into the oven.
If there was a Superfriends Hall of Justice for food, sweet potatoes would be the Superman or Wonder Woman of the group. Or put two of them together and they could do “Wonder Twins activate. Form of an ice pick!” Please humor me and tell me that you know what I’m talking about. Tell me that I’m not the only one who remembers the teenaged duo who performed superhuman feats by transforming into eagles or waterfalls.
Sweet potatoes boast so many health benefits that they deserve a cape and cool sound effects.
Here are some of the benefits:
- They are chock full of vitamin C, calcium, folate, potassium and beta-carotene.
- If you are someone who contends with Diabetes, or simply chooses to follow a low-glycemic diet, sweet potatoes are your friend. They have a significantly lower glycemic index than regular white potatoes.
- If you suffer from muscle cramps (something that can plague runners and other athletes during long training session), the high potassium level help to alleviate these cramps.
- They are high in fiber, particularly if you eat the skin.
- The high levels of Vitamin A and beta-carotene help to keep skin healthy.
And let’s not forget that sweet potatoes taste great. Roasting brings out their naturally sweet flavor and gives them a tender, pleasing texture. The five-spice powder, which can be found in the spice aisle of most supermarkets, lends a kick of flavor and slight spice to this easy side dish.
Serve them alongside chicken or pork stir-fry, toss them with a green salad or even roll them into a roasted vegetable wrap sandwich.
The recipe:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt and five-spice powder. Toss to coat.
Transfer the sweet potatoes to the baking sheet, and spread out evenly.
Roast the potatoes until they are tender and the edges are starting to turn golden brown, turning halfway through, approximately 30 minutes.. Serve.
Other sweet potato recipes:

Cookin’ Canuck’s Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Blue Cheese Breadcrumbs
Cookin’ Canuck’s Sweet Potato Hash with Canadian Bacon, Red Pepper & Sage
A Spicy Perspective’s Real Sweet Potato Souffles
How Sweet It Is’ Apple Bacon Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Dine & Dish’s Baked Sweet Potato Fries
From the kitchen of Cookin Canuck. www.cookincanuck.com
Ingredients
- 3 (about 1 1/2 pounds) red-skinned sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 3/4 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt and five-spice powder. Toss to coat.
- Transfer the sweet potatoes to the baking sheet, and spread out evenly.
- Roast the potatoes until they are tender and the edges are starting to turn golden brown, turning halfway through, approximately 30 minutes.. Serve.




















{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Such a fresh + healthy recipe!! Sweet potatoes are my favorite
I eat soooo many sweet potatoes in the fall – my favorite! Chinese five-spice sounds like an excellent way to season them!
I’ve been looking for a way to change up my boring sweet potatoes…Chinese 5-spice sounds like just the thing! Maybe I’ll do a riff on it using pumpkin…lately I’m on a pumpkin kick! (just posted Baked Pumpkin Custard…for breakfast!)
Dara, I loooooooove 5-spice and now I think we should marry.
What a lovely idea! The five-spice powder sounds like the *perfect* foil for sweet potatoes.
That chinese 5 spice is bomb! Love this recipe, Dara!
What a great idea for sweet potatoes, love it!
can’t wait to try the 5-spice powder!!
Love love love sweet potatoes! Roasting veggies is our favorite way to have them – can’t wait to try your 5-spice version!
I have been sooo into 5 spice lately. I can’t wait to try these!
I love sweet potatoes but haven’t tried them roasted – these look amazing!
Great recipe, 5 spice powder is so awesome on just about anything
I bet that top one would be cold too. % spice has that ability. GREG
I love sweet potatoes and am a fan of any roasted veggie. Great recipe with a spice I have yet to try.
Wonder Twin powers activate! I totally know what you are talking about LOL.. I can’t wait to try this recipe!!
Oo I love roasted sweet potatoes! Especially with some spice, this looks delicious!
Roasted sweet potatoes are always a winner! I don’t use 5-spice powder enough…can’t wait to try it on these ‘taters!
Love the the 411 on sweet potatoes health benefits Dara. I must say I am addicted to them, would never cross my mind to add Chinese five spice. Most importantly, I haven’t made them on Thanksgiving, can you believe it?! …ended up not making string beans either. The blasphemy!
I’ve never used 5 Spice. Hmm. Sounds yummy! And sweet potatoes are my secret food crush
Sweet potatoes are the best, but I bought five spice powder a while back because I needed it for a recipe and haven’t used it since. I should probably give it another try, right?
Dara, I wish I could say I know of the Superfriends who morph into things in the name of good, but I will say these roasted sweet potatoes look super delicious! You had me at 5 spice powder.
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