Warm Sweet Potato Salad

This is a nice twist on the traditional creamy potato salad. I like this served warm or room temp, but by all means it can be served chilled. It has a nice sweet/tangy vinaigrette with fresh herbs and roasted vegetables. I think you will enjoy it.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• 4  large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into bite size pieces
• 1  large  red pepper, rough chopped in bite size pieces
• 1  large onion, rough chopped in bite size pieces
• 4  scallions, diced (white and green parts)
• 8  slices smoked bacon, I like the thick cut for this dish
• 1⁄2 cup celery, diced
• 1⁄2 cup pecans, rough chopped
• 1  tablespoon fresh parsley
• 1  tablespoon fresh thyme
• 1  tablespoon fresh rosemary
•  olive oil, to roast the vegetables in
•  salt and pepper

• Vinaigrette

• 3  tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 3  tablespoons maple syrup
• 1  tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil or 2  tablespoons canola oil
• 1  tablespoon  of the bacon fat
• 1  small shallot, fine diced

Directions

1. After dicing the red pepper, onion and sweet potatoes; toss with a little olive oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Roast in a 400F oven on a cookie sheet, covered with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up. They will take about 20 minutes. While your vegetables cook, dice your bacon and saute on medium heat until nice and crisp. Remove and drain on a paper towel and reserve 1 tablespoon of the bacon dripping for the salad dressing.
2. As the vegetables and bacon cook, lets make the dressing. In a small bowl combine all the ingredients and whisk in the oil to make a nice vinaigrette.
3. Toss the roasted vegetables (except the potatoes), with the scallions, celery, bacon, pecans fresh herbs and vinaigrette and mix well. Now add the potatoes in and toss lightly.
4. This is a great potato salad and great for BBQs.