This antioxidant-rich side dish is an example of how to eat a diet rich in variety and the many colors of the rainbow. The base of the side dish is nutrient-rich watercress topped with roasted purple sweet potatoes. The relish, or gremolata in Italian culinary terms is made with healthful pomegranate seeds, chopped pecans, garlic, lemon zest, Italian parsley and olive oil. The natural sweetness of the purple sweet potatoes pairs wonderfully with both the ‘pop’ of fresh sweetness of the pomegranate arils and the crunch of the buttery pecans. A lovely side dish that pairs very well with a turmeric-roast chicken or grilled pork tenderloin.
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Purple Sweet Potatoes with Pomegranate-Pecan Gremolata
Ingredients:
- 3 purple sweet potatoes, washed/scrubbed, cut into 1/2-inch rounds
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper
- For the gremolata:
- 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
- 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
- zest and juice of 1 large lemon
- 1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley leaves
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- Watercress, for serving
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Arrange the sliced sweet potatoes on a large, parchment-lined baking sheet sprayed with olive oil. Drizzle 1 Tablespoon of oil over the potatoes along with a pinch of salt and pepper on each potato. Roast for 20-25 minutes or until tender when pierced with a knife.
- To make the gremolata, combine the pomegranate seeds, garlic, zest and juice of the lemon, parsley, pecans and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Stir in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Arrange the watercress on a serving plate. Top with the cooked sweet potato rounds and the gremolata to taste. Serve immediately.
Tagged: garlic, gremolata, Italian parsley, lemon zest, parsley, pecan gremolata, pecans, pomegranate and pecan gremolata, pomegranate arils, pomegranate relish, pomegranate seeds, potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, side dish, sweet potatoes
This looks great! Love the colors.
Very tasty indeed. Purple sweet potatoes make for a really lovely sweet potato pie filling a well!