Baked Spiced Sweet Potatoes and Pears (Creole)

Sydney Mike's Note:

This recipe was found on the internet at gumbopages.com. The original recipe called for peeling the sweet potatoes, but I much prefer them unpeeled.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 55 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 35 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 4 ounces unsalted butter
• ¾ cup cane syrup
• ½ cup pear nectar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup bourbon whiskey
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 4 large sweet potatoes , halved lengthwise, cut into 1/3-inch slices
• 4 large bartlett pears , crisp, peeled halved, cored & cut into 1/4-inch slices

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F & butter a 13"x9" glass baking dish.
2. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, stir butter, cane syrup, pear nectar, vanilla, Bourbon & OJ until butter melts.
3. Increase heat & boil until mixture is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat & whisk in the cinnamon, nutmeg & salt.
4. Arrange1/3 of the potato slices in the prepared baking dish, then top with half of the pear slices, & then with another 1/3 of the potato slices. Finally, arrange the remaining slices of potato & pear on top & on their edge, alternating potato & pear, & overlapping slightly.
5. Sprinkle lightly with salt, then pour the cane syrup mixture over everything.
6. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil & bake until sweet potatoes are nearly tender, about 1 hour.
7. Uncover & bake until completely tender, basting occasionally with the syrup, for about 20-30 minutes longer, checking with a toothpick or knife point to make sure the potatoes are completely tender.
8. Spoon the syrup over the sweet potatoes & pears one last time & serve hot.

Reviews

[FolkDiva]

These potatoes and pears are special...and not your typical sweet potato side dish. I could not find the cane syrup at my local grocer, so had to substitute with a mild flavored molasses. The sweetness of the potatoes and pears was unusually deep and rich. (Could be that the molasses added some of the deep caramel flavor...but if I make again I will probably not change it.) Made to accompany Bourbon Pecan Chicken for a wonderfully different Creole dinner. Thank you for posting!