Cilantro Lime Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Cilantro Lime Baked Sweet Potato Fries is a remarkably delicious and simple New recipe take on plain old sweet potato fries; baked to a healthy perfection with a wild and delicious splash of flavor including cumin and lime in a delicious dipping sauce of Cilantro Lime Ranch.

I bet you are all wondering “How in the heck did cilantro and lime get in this mix?” You absolutely have to try this winning combination of delicious Baked Sweet Potato Fries with a hint of lime and cumin in a cilantro lime Ranch sauce to believe how awesome those flavors  work together- Seriously try them!

Some Sweet Potato Facts…

• Although the soft, orange sweet potato is often called a “yam” in parts of North America, the sweet potato is botanically very distinct from a genuine yam , which is native to Africa and Asia and belongs to the monocot family Dioscoreaceae.
• Sweet potatoes have been said to have unique health benefits.They are loaded with vitamins A, C, and E – antioxidants that can help prevent heart disease and cancer, bolster the immune system and even slow aging by promoting good vision and healthy skin. They have been recently reclassified as an “antidiabetic” food. They are anti-inflammatory and can protect against emphysema.
• Sweet potatoes are high in Beta Carotene.They are said to be an excellent source of copper, manganese, potassium, iron and vitamin B-6.
• Sweet potatoes can be: Baked, steamed, boiled, microwaved, fried, mashed, pureed or eaten raw
• Sweet potatoes are high in Beta Carotene and vitamins E and C.
• Sweet potatoes offer other nutrients such as potassium, iron, and vitamin B-6
• Sweet potatoes are roots, compared to regular potatoes which are tubers (underground stems).
• Sweet potatoes are the official vegetable for North Carolina.

Cilantro Lime Baked Sweet Potato Fries

• 4 large sweet potatoes
• 3 tablespoons of olive oil for tossing
• zest of 1 lime
• juice of 1 lime
• 1/2 teaspoon of cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
• fresh ground pepper to taste
• 1 recipe for Cilantro Lime Ranch Dipping sauce, below

Directions for Sweet Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Place a baker’s rack on a large cookie sheet. In a large bowl toss sweet potatoes with 3 tablespoons of olive oil, juice of 1 lime, lime zest, cumin, kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
3. Spread sweet potatoes in single layer on prepared baking sheet on top of bakers rack, being sure not to overcrowd.
4. Bake until sweet potatoes is tender and light golden brown, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes.
5. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Cilantro Lime Ranch Dipping Sauce

• 1/2 cup of real mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup of sour cream
• 2 tablespoons of fresh finely chopped cilantro
• 1/2 tablespoon of fresh dill, minced
• 1 tablespoon of minced fresh chives
• zest of 1 lime
• juice of 1 lime
• Dash hot sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon of  kosher salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 of a cup of buttermilk

Directions

1. In a medium bowl combine mayonnaise, sour cream, chopped cilantro, fresh dill, minced chives, zest of 1 lime, juice, of 1 lime, dash of hot sauce, kosher salt, fresh black pepper to taste, and buttermilk taste and adjust seasonings if desired.
2. Best if chilled for 2-3 hours (overnight is best) before using.

This recipe is a © of Heidy L. McCallum and The McCallum’s Shamrock Patch, 2014-15. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material or photos without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner are strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Heidy L. McCallum and The McCallum’s Shamrock Patch with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. You may not copy and paste recipes to share on Social Platforms.