Chef John's Candied Yams

Chef John's Candied Yams
  • PREP TIME
    10 mins
  • COOK TIME
    20 mins
  • TOTAL TIME
    30 mins
  • SERVING
    8 People
  • VIEWS
    214

Elevate your holiday table with these Candied Yams, a delightful twist on a classic side dish. The secret? A vibrant lemon-infused glaze that cuts through the sweetness, creating a symphony of flavors that will leave everyone wanting more. Garnished with crunchy nuts, it's a feast for the eyes and the palate.

Ingridients

Adjust Servings

Nutrition

  • Carbohydrate
    70 g
  • Cholesterol
    15 mg
  • Fiber
    5 g
  • Protein
    3 g
  • Saturated Fat
    4 g
  • Sodium
    2294 mg
  • Sugar
    40 g
  • Fat
    6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat
    0 g

DIRECTIONS

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Image Step 01
01 Step

Recipe View Brining the Sweet Potatoes: In a large pot, dissolve salt in cold water. Add sweet potato pieces, bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until just cooked but not quite tender, approximately 5-7 minutes. Test with a knife; it should meet slight resistance. Drain thoroughly.

Image Step 02
02 Step

Recipe View Crafting the Lemon-Maple Glaze: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, combine brown sugar, butter, lemon juice, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, and a pinch of salt. Stir continuously until the butter is melted and the sugar dissolves and the mixture begins to bubble, about 4-6 minutes. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the glaze thickens slightly.

Image Step 03
03 Step

Recipe View Glazing the Yams: Add the drained sweet potatoes to the skillet with the glaze. Increase heat to high. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sweet potatoes are evenly coated and very tender, and the glaze has thickened into a rich, glossy syrup, approximately 5-8 minutes. Be careful not to burn the glaze.

Image Step 04
04 Step

Recipe View Serving: Transfer the candied yams to a serving dish. Garnish generously with chopped pistachios, pecans, or walnuts for added texture and flavor. Serve immediately and enjoy!

For a deeper flavor, consider using dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar.
If you prefer a smoother glaze, you can strain it through a fine-mesh sieve after cooking.
Experiment with different nuts for garnish to find your favorite combination.
Candied yams can be prepared a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheat gently before serving.

Darby Hauck

Written by

Our recipe authors are passionate food lovers who share thousands of diverse dishes from around the world. They bring daily cooking inspiration with delicious, easy-to-make recipes for every occasion.

RECIPE REVIEWS

Avarage Rating: 4.7/ 5 ( 71 Ratings)
Total Reviews: (8)
  • Bruce Bechtelar

    I doubled the recipe for Thanksgiving, and it was a huge hit! There were no leftovers!

  • Ezekiel Shanahan

    So much better than the traditional candied yam recipes I've tried. The glaze is incredible!

  • Regan Quigley

    I added a little bit of orange zest for extra flavor and it turned out amazing!

  • Rachael Metz

    My family loved this recipe! It's definitely going to be a new holiday tradition.

  • Susana Carter

    The hint of cayenne pepper was perfect! It gave it just the right amount of kick.

  • Maeve Treutel

    This recipe was a game-changer! The lemon juice made it so bright and not overly sweet.

  • America Veum

    I used pecans for the garnish, and it was the perfect complement to the sweet potatoes.

  • Theodore Rempel

    Easy to follow recipe with amazing results. Highly recommend!

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