Monday, March 5, 2012

Sriracha Sweet Potato Packets



Growing up, vegetables were not my favorite foods.  Moving in with my husband in my late 20's, veggies were really a big deal for either of us.  However, as my cooking experience evolved and I branched out to try new thing, these roots, stems, leaves and flowers have really grown on me.

While finding myself craving a sweet potato or a grilled zucchini (I know... zucchini is technically a fruit) is something I'm getting used to, my husband has yet to ride my wave.  He's good with a few of the basics - corn, broccoli and most salads - but will still turn his nose up at my favorite Balsamic Grilled Zucchini dish or Cauliflower Soup.  Sweet potatoes have been on the bottom of his veggie approved list... until now.

Knowing that my dear prefers food with a kick, I pulled out my trusty Sriracha bottle to spice up our sweets.  As my time has recently been spent in Dance Mom mode while putting the final touches on Liv's costumes, time for balanced dinner prep has been short.  The grill has been my friend during these Santa Ana breezy days where temps reached into the 80's, and tossing veggies into foil packets and onto the grill with meat or fish has been my salvation.


Sliced sweet potatoes and red onions are doused with a simple sauce of spicy Sriracha, oil and ketchup for a quick to prepare packet that steams on the grill as you get the rest of the meal going.  Within a half hour one has a perfectly cooked side that is now Liv Life Husband approved.  He ate it.  He liked it... He even asked for seconds. Ka-chow!

Grilled Sriracha Sweet Potato Packets
So simple to toss together and then onto the grill, these husband approved potatoes will be making a regular appearance in the Liv Life household.

4 small-medium sweet potatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices
1/2 red oinon, sliced
3-4 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs ketchup
1-2 tsp Sriracha (depending on how much spice you like)
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat grill.

Place sliced sweet potatoes and onions in a medium bowl.  In a small bowl combine the olive oil, ketchup and Sriracha.  Add the sauce to the potatoes and onions an stir.

Place veggies in the center of a large square of foil.  (I doubled my foil to stop dripping).  Fold foil to seal all edges.

I place the foil packets onto the top shelf of my grill while it is still preheating.  The packets will get about 10 minutes of high heat, then when I put my meat on (usually my meat is done within 15 minutes) I turn the grill down to the proper meat temp and continue cooking the packets.  When meat is done, check the packets and if the potatoes are soft they are ready.

29 comments:

  1. This is my type of lunch! Sriracha is new for me, but if it is spicy, then I would love it.

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  2. I love Sriracha and would have never thought to combine with sweet potatoes, but I can totally see how it works.. Kudos Kim!! Hope to see you soon. :)

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  3. That sounds so delicious! I love finding recipes to grill veggies!

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  4. While I love most veggies, I'm wary of cooked orange veggies, including sweet potatoes and carrots. This recipe might help me get over it!

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  5. Do you think if I bake the foil packets it would work just as well? how long would you say?

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  6. Mmm this looks so good for lunch - simple and flexible according to your tastes :)
    Love it!!!

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  7. Wow! That looks great! I am going to try these this summer when we bust out the grill!

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  8. These looks so bright and appetizing! I love sweet potatoes and often take a baked sweet potato to work as my lunch!

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  9. Ooooh, i sense genius! I love potato and onion foil packets, but sweet potato and then sriracha? I am hooked!

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  10. I love this idea! Sweet potatoes and sriracha sounds so good together, I will have to try!

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  11. Stop everything, Zucchini is a fruit?! When did that happen? Had no idea. Great twist on sweet potatoes, my guy is like yours - he loves anything spicy.

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  12. Glad these are husband approved! (Do you remember the ranch style beans that used to have "Husband Pleasin'!" on the label?) We love us some Sriracha around here so I know these will be a hit. Thanks!

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  13. The foil packets are a great time saver to cook the sweet potatoes. We just cut the sweet potatoes into planks, about 1/2", and put them directly on the grill. The sweet potatoes slightly char, and caramelize. They are so good. You'll have to try them on the grill, when you have time.

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  14. I discovered the joy of sriracha only a few months ago, and now i drizzle it over everything i eat! love this recipe... Thanks, Kim!

    (wait. what? zucchini is a fruit! wow!)

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  15. Yum!! I love grilling potatoes in foil packs, but never thought of sweet potatoes! Looks wonderful!

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  16. Sassy! A perfect packet of spicy goodness!

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  17. this looks great. my hubby loves sweet potatoes. im gonna make this for him.

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  18. Oh you beautiful woman you! I am not a fan of sweet potatoes at all but sriracha steals my heart every time. I'll try this. :)

    I hope you are having a good day! xo

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  19. wow, these sound good - sriracha makes almost anything better, and I love sweet potatoes. unfortunately I am the only one in this house who likes them, so I'll eat this for lunch or when J is out of town! ;)

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  20. Love the idea of packets... easy cleanup and love the spice you added too. Yum! Hope all is well. Cheers!

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  21. You had me at sirarchi! And now with sweet potatoes - delish!!! Hope you have a great weekend ahead!!!

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  22. I love sweet potatoes but never cooked in these flavors! I love this easy and quick dish. I always look for great sweet potato recipes and found one that I want to try! Have a great weekend Kim!

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  23. Oooh, spicy sweet potatoes sound so yummy!!! Have a great weekend, Kim~

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  24. This looks good! I have never tried Sriracha before, have seen recipes using it though. I really must keep a look out for Sriracha! Thanks for sharing!

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  25. Hot & Sweet? I love this combination of flavors. And you put it on the grill. Aaah I can't wait to try this one.

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  26. These sound delicious. I love the combination of spicy and sweet.

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  27. these sound amazing! and i have sweet potatoes on hand, so i can totally do them this week, yay :) thanks for sharing!

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  28. I love veggie packets on the grill when the weather is warm :) I don't do enough with sweet potatoes...love this!

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