Now that the holidays are over, I have a confession to make.  I’ve never been a fan of sweet potatoes.  Sure, they’re good for you – seven ounces (about half of a large one) contains more than twice the daily recommended intake of beta-carotene (which the body turns into vision-friendly vitamin A) plus ample amounts of fiber, minerals (manganese, copper, potassium, and phosphorus) and B vitamins, and antioxidants. Yet the dessert-like concoctions that typically appear on holiday dinner tables have never held much interest to me.

This year, however, things have changed.  Blame it on the blog, but now that I spend my days thinking about food rather than tax law, it occurred to me that sweet potatoes shouldn’t be any less versatile than other root vegetables.  Since salads are a great way to showcase these staples of the winter kitchen, I thought I’d create one using cubes of roasted sweet potatoes.

First, a quick detour on the distinction between sweet potatoes and yams.  If, like me, you’ve seen bins labeled “yams” in supermarkets and assumed that they contained a type of sweet potato, you may be surprised to learn that in fact yams and sweet potatoes are entirely different vegetables.  Yams are part of the family of plants that includes lilies.  They are native to Africa and Asia and are typically found in the U.S. only in international supermarkets.   (I found some in a Korean market near my home.)

In contrast, sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory plant family and are believed to have originated in the Americas.  There are two types:  those with flesh that is soft and moist after being cooked and those with flesh that remains firm and dry after being cooked.  The soft-fleshed types are the ones most likely to be labeled (incorrectly, it turns out) “yams” in everyday supermarkets.  Common varieties include Garnet and Jewel.

For my salad, I used both varieties.  I peeled each sweet potato and cut it into 1-inch cubes.  I tossed the pieces with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and then roasted them in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes.   While the sweet potatoes were cooling, I made a quick vinaigrette using apple cider vinegar.  I then tossed the roasted sweet potato cubes with some arugula, feta cheese, pecans, and the vinaigrette in a bowl, and voilà, my salad was done.

The result was an absolutely delicious – and classic — study in contrasts:  bitterness from the arugula, sweetness from the sweet potatoes, saltiness from the feta, and sour from the vinegar.  The bitter-sweet crunch of the pecans provided the crowning touch.

Hello, weekday lunches and dinners with family and friends!  I’ve found a new addition to my regular menu rotation.