Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes
Burning campfire air and cricket forest song as we picked our way over the gravel road with bare feet. Hopscotch hopscotch hot coals until we were on solid ground in front of the campground’s swing set, abandoned in the dusk. The trees, heavy with pollen, were outlined in the fading light all around us.
Tamara claimed one swing and I jumped on the other. On the way up to Cane Creek in the back of her parents’ car, we had pointed out every Ford on the road with glee. Each car was a vehicular homage to the object of our 6th grade affection, Brandon Ford, a short blonde kid with freckles. Screaming, “FORD!” and dissolving into giggles was the closest either of us would ever come to being Brandon’s girlfriend (sad, I know), so we relished it.
Now we practiced swinging with all our might on the solid swing set, kicking higher and higher, calling out one of the nick names we’d made up for Brandon or our secondary crush, Chris — always have a backup, just in case — with each forward arc.
“BRANDON!”
“FORD!”
“SNAPPING TURTLE!”
“FRECKLES!”
“MR. PIGGY!”
Swishing next to my best friend in the spring darkness, my lungs filled with satisfaction etched in longing: her company fed me even while I wished for Brandon’s (or Chris’s, I wasn’t picky) and that tinge of possibility when they were around. Would one of them look at me? Would one of them talk to me? Would one of them ever say something that tipped our balance away from friendship, away from just classmates and toward a held hand, toward even a kiss? These thoughts swirled in my head as the woods rushed past — to and fro, to and fro. We kicked our muddy feet, singing each name.
When we had swung ourselves dizzy, we ran back through the woods to Tamara’s parents, who had been smoking cigarettes and talking with friends into the evening. We piled into the car to drive the hour back to Tamara’s house, where we ate Cheetos and timed who could lie on a bag of frozen peas the longest.
Tonight, Raleigh smells like Cane Creek: people have started up their grills and filled the pollen-tinged air with the scent of charcoal and fire. Mike and I have agreed that we need to clean off the balcony furniture soon so we can join everyone in flinging open the doors and eating outside. The first thing I want to bring out to our balcony table is a platter of these fresh, zippy, sweet-and-tangy sweet potatoes. Breathe in deeply (unless you have allergies, in which case, wait until after it rains a few more times) and enjoy the first bits of spring!
One year ago: Easter Sides: The Best Macaroni Salad Ever & Sundried Tomato Pasta Salad
Two years ago: Samoa Monkey Bread with Ganache Dipping Sauce
Three years ago: Pumpkin Oat Snack Cake with Broiled Coconut Icing
Four years ago: Rich Ice Cream and Coffee Cheesecake
Five years ago: Banana Nut Bread Waffles
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil, plus more for coating potatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon each cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed clean (but not peeled) and halved lengthwise
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley, minced
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 4 teaspoons finely chopped fresh dill
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- water to thin to drizzling consistency
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line two baking sheets with foil. In a medium bowl, toss the chickpeas with olive oil, spices, and salt until coated. Spread them in a single layer on one of the baking sheets. Rub each potato half with olive oil and place them face down on the other baking sheet. Put both pans in the oven and cook (tossing the chickpeas periodically) for 20-30 minutes. Remove the chickpeas when they're roasted and just crunchy (be careful not to overcook; this was about 20-25 minutes for me) and the potatoes when a knife will easily poke through a fat potato with no resistance.
- While the chickpeas and potatoes are roasting, toss parsley, tomatoes, and lemon juice together in a medium bowl. Set this in the fridge to marinate.
- In another medium bowl, whisk together all of your tahini sauce ingredients. Add water, whisking after each addition, until it is easily drizzled. My tahini was thick and this took quite a lot of water! Maybe 1/2 cup or even more! But start with a small amount and add a little at a time to find what works. Taste the sauce and adjust as needed to make sure it's tangy, herby, and savory. Stick it in the fridge until dinner is ready.
- When the potatoes and chickpeas are ready, remove them from the oven. Place the potatoes on a serving platter and smoosh the insides down a bit with a spoon. Top with chickpeas, tahini sauce, and tomato salad. Serve immediately.
Hannah | The Swirling Spoon
April 13, 2015 at 1:01 am (10 years ago)What an incredibly fresh and tasty looking dinner! I love the colour of the tomato and parsley on top… lifts it to another level!
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile
April 13, 2015 at 1:42 am (10 years ago)Yum! I love this idea! And a bit healthier than your usual baked potatoes too. Definitely trying this one!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
April 13, 2015 at 2:56 am (10 years ago)Confession- I’m not the biggest fan of sweet potatoes but damn….your pictures are gorgeous, I could faceplant them all!
Sarah
April 13, 2015 at 5:42 am (10 years ago)Chickpeas on a sweet potato? Brilliant!
Jenni
April 13, 2015 at 7:24 am (10 years ago)I love the smell of this time of year, although I’m not a huge fan of everything turning yellow-green with pollen! The cats all look greenish. Love hearing your memories of Cane Creek Park–I grew up not too far from there. And the tahini dressing for those potatoes? Perfect! xo
Melissa Falk
April 13, 2015 at 7:59 am (10 years ago)This looks gorgeous and sounds like dinner to me 🙂
heather @french press
April 13, 2015 at 10:46 am (10 years ago)it is definitely the time for eating outdoors, actually pretty soon it will be too hot here in Cali (unless you can wait until midnight to eat) – so I am going to enjoy it now, and thee potatoes will have to happen soon
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
April 13, 2015 at 1:41 pm (10 years ago)Drooling over these – I can’t wait to try these out!
Kristy @ Chocolate Slopes
April 13, 2015 at 3:03 pm (10 years ago)These look awesome! My family is definitely not vegan but we would have no problem eating this many nights for dinner 🙂
Danae @ Recipe Runner
April 13, 2015 at 6:24 pm (10 years ago)I’ve been enjoying using our grill again the last few weekends. I’m so excited for the warm weather to stick around! These sweet potatoes look amazing and I LOVE the Mediterranean spin on them!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate
April 13, 2015 at 6:26 pm (10 years ago)What a fun post – great memories! This dish looks amazing, and lucky for me, I just bought some sweet potatoes! 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny
April 13, 2015 at 7:42 pm (10 years ago)I read your story with a giant smile on my face. It reminded me of being in middle school and the feelings of having crushes (on whoever it was that week….haha) and just hanging out. These potatoes look just as comforting as your story 🙂
chocolateandlollies
August 29, 2016 at 6:50 am (8 years ago)WOW WOW WOW…..this dish is delicious….my kiddies gobbled it up…thanks so much 🙂
Julie Ruble
August 30, 2016 at 1:16 am (8 years ago)I’m so glad to hear it! Yay!!
Tom
March 3, 2017 at 10:30 pm (8 years ago)Had to make this since it incorporated all my favorite food, hands down one of my favorite dishes ever, thank you so much!