Caramelised Sweet Potatoes (Soetpatats)
Caramelised sweet potatoes (or ‘Soetpatats’ in Afrikaans) is a traditional South African dish. It’s a delicious side dish (some people would even say it could be enjoyed as a dessert), but normally it compliments any meat (or fish) on your plate. That’s why you’ll always find caramelised sweet potatoes on our Christmas table.
I’ve eaten many (and I really mean many) versions of caramelised sweet potatoes, but none come close to my mum’s – hers are the best!
Put it on the table:
If you have sweet potatoes in your pantry, you will probably also have all the other ingredients to make caramelised sweet potatoes. It’s so easy, you can make it even when you’re camping.
Ingredients for Caramelised Sweet Potatoes
5 medium sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into thick slices)
2 tablespoons butter
1 cinnamon stick
½ teaspoon paprika
salt (to taste)
½ cup golden syrup
1½ cups brown sugar
1 cup water
Melt butter in a medium, heavy-based saucepan. Add cinnamon stick, paprika and salt.
Butter, cinnamon stick, paprika and salt
Add golden syrup and brown sugar. Stir until sugar has melted.
Add syrup and sugar
Stir the sauce until it has caramelised – it will bubble and turn into a light caramel colour.
Caramelised sauce
Add the sweet potatoes into the sauce, as well as the water.
Add sweet potatoes and water
Put the lid on the saucepan and let it simmer for about 30 minutes over low heat. You can shake the saucepan now and then, but don’t stir (you don’t want the sweet potatoes to completely break up into little pieces).
Sweet potatoes after half an hour on low heat
Once the sweet potatoes are soft and very syrupy, it’s ready to be served.
Caramelised Sweet Potatoes
You may remember that in last week’s Dish of the Week we showed how we cooked a leg of lamb and gammon (read here). The caramelised sweet potato, yellow rice with raisins and roasted potatoes turned our Christmas meal into a feast.
Yellow rice with raisins (a flavourful, spiced rice)
One last time – our Christmas 2024 feast
Next week we’ll end our Christmas menu with dessert. Make sure you don’t miss our version of Panettone bread & butter pudding (Dish of the Week #62).
Wet and Dusty Roads 
These look delicious, and like you mentioned, can complement many main dishes. Can’t wait to try your mum’s recipe!
LikeLike
My mother always says there is nothing special (or different) about how she makes caramelised sweet potatoes … I think it tastes so good because I know she makes it with love 😊.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Over the years recipes involving sweet potatoes have become a staple in our household, but I have yet to try caramelised one! I love that it’s easy to make and tastes super delicious! Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
LikeLike
We also like sweet potato (in any form), but it’s my favourite when it’s caramelised … maybe not the healthiest, but definitely the tastiest 😋. Maybe that’s why we only eat it on special occasions. Thanks for your comment Aiva and have a wonderful week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🥰🥰🥰
LikeLike
Delicious as always!
LikeLike
This dish is really delicious (when caramelised sweet potatoes are on the table, I always go for a second helping)!
LikeLike
Sounds delicious!
LikeLike
It’s really delicious – sweet, but to feel less guilty, we always go for a long walk the next day 😉.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Caramelized sweet potatoes are very popular in the States at times like Thanksgiving, though ours are red in colour and they don’t have golden syrup here. Maybe they use molasses, I’m not sure. For me it is too sweet and as you say, I would have it for dessert! I would love to sample your mother’s and your Christmas dinner was obviously wonderful.
LikeLike
It’s interesting to hear that caramelised sweet potatoes are also popular in the USA. We get sweet potatoes that are orange, but always buy the white one (with the purple skin). Yes, I think molasses would also work in place of golden syrup. Although it is really delicious, we only eat it on special occasions – because it is so sweet. I think if you’ve tasted just one spoonful of my mum’s caramelised sweet potatoes, you’ll agree it’s a winner 😊.
LikeLike
These caramelized potatoes sound delicious Corna. Hope you have a great weekend.
LikeLike
It’s a delicious side dish (or dessert if you want 😉). Berto and I have tried to make it, but it just doesn’t taste as good as my mother’s. Thank you Marion, I hope you have a nice weekend too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now that my husband and I are vegan again, I can’t wait to try this recipe! It looks delicious!
LikeLike
The butter in this dish may not be strictly vegan, but I think it’s 80% there 😉. It’s delicious and definitely worth trying to make!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I noticed that. I always substitute coconut oil.
LikeLike
Dit lyk so lekker. Laat my mond sommer water.
LikeLike
Og Aletta, soetpatats is darem maar net ‘n wenner! Natuurlik nie die beste vir wanneer jy diabeties is nie … maar ‘n happie (of twee) sal hopenlik nie te veel skade doen nie 😉.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ek maak dit deesdae met xylitol. Dis net so lekker😊
LikeLike
O ja, ek het vergeet van die xylitol! Ek’s bly dit werk net so goed – dankie, ek gaan dit volgende keer onthou.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gelukkig eet my dit darem ook, al het hy dit nie nodig nie.
LikeLike
I made sweet potatoes for my dinner last night. I love them and your mother’s recipe sounds so good. Our sweet potatoes are an orange color I wonder if they taste the same as yours.
LikeLike
We also get the orange sweet potatoes, but we usually buy the white ones (with the purple skin). Maybe one day I’ll have to try the orange sweet potatoes – I think they’ll be just as good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that this recipe has been passed down from your mom. I’m sure every time you make them, you probably think of her. Sounds delicious!
LikeLike
And my mother got the recipe back from her mother … so you’re absolutely right, I always think of my mum’s (and my granny’s) kitchen when I first smell that wonderful caramel sauce – such sweet memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The combination of butter, cinnamon and golden syrup sounds absolutely irresistible. Your description of your mother’s version being the best is so relatable, nothing quite compares to the way my dear Nanny Tommy made her famous Shepherd’s pie and Sunday Roast.. I’ll have to try this recipe soon!
LikeLike
Oh, it’s lovely to hear you also have fond memories of your Nanny Tommy’s food. The funny thing is that I can make it exactly like my mum, but it just doesn’t taste as good as hers 😊. Hmm … butter, cinnamon and golden syrup – you can’t go wrong with this combination!
LikeLiked by 1 person