This post is sponsored by the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Looking for a simple starter that will impress your guests? Look no further than my Sweet & Spicy Airfryer Sweetpotato Bites! This sweetpotato starter is perfect for parties or any other occasion. Best of all, it’s simple to make!
February is National Sweetpotato Month and also my favorite month because it’s my birthday month! Since it is the shortest month of the year, it seems like a free pass to celebrate the entire month, don’t you agree? Sweetpotatoes are one of my all-time favorite vegetables. From sweetpotato pies to pancakes to fries and everything in between, I love sweetpotatoes and can eat them anytime, anywhere.
I want to show sweetpotatoes some love this year. Let’s start by recognizing that sweetpotato is one word. It is. A sweetpotato is far different than “a sweet potato”, which sounds weird when you think about it. Sweetpotatoes are also so different from potatoes in a lot of ways, especially when it comes down to cooking. Sweetpotato starch is similar to cornstarch, which means it’s more stable when cooked. Sweetpotatoes also contain an enzyme that when heated converts some of the starches to sugars, giving them that deep, sweet flavor.
Did you know?
Sweetpotatoes offer a range of benefits that contribute to overall heart health. One cup of cooked sweetpotatoes contains:
- 120% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin A
Beta-carotene is the precursor to vitamin A. Vitamin A is crucial for heart health. It acts as an antioxidant, helping to prevent oxidative stress and inflammation, which are both associated with heart disease.
- 30% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C
Vitamin C helps supports the synthesis of collagen, which is important for healthy blood vessels.
- 30% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin B6?
Vitamin B6 is involved in various metabolic processes, including regulating levels of homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of stroke. Additionally, vitamin B6 supports the formation of red blood cells, which are essential for oxygen transport.
Why you’ll love these Sweet & Spicy Airfryer Sweetpotato Bites:
- Flavor Combination: They offer the perfect balance of sweetness and spiciness. The natural sweetness of sweetpotatoes combined with the kick of spices creates a taste you can’t resist.
- Crispy Texture: Thanks to the air fryer, your sweetpotato bites achieve a crispy outside while maintaining a tender and fluffy inside.
- Simple and Convenient: This recipe is accessible to a wide range of individuals, especially those with busy schedules or limited cooking abilities.
Sweetpotatoes are best paired with a little bit of spice. While there is plenty of hot honey on the market, whipping together this homemade hot honey in less than 5 minutes is a surefire way to impress your guests.
Equipment
- Food processor
- Parchment paper
- Small saucepan
- Two shallow baking dishes
- Large baking sheet
- Small scoop
- Air fryer
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to make Sweet & Spicy Airfryer Sweetpotato Bites:
- Sweetpotatoes. Look for firm sweetpotatoes that are free from signs of decay. Select similar-sized sweetpotatoes for more uniform cooking and cooking time.
- Hot sauce. Use your heart to choose your hot sauce. I love buffalo-style hot sauce.
- Smoked paprika. There’s something about smoked paprika that is perfect for this recipe. Regular paprika will work, however, smoked paprika is *chef’s kiss*.
- Honey. I used local honey.
DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?
Please let me know by leaving a review below. If you snap a photo, please share it on Instagram; be sure to tag me @themotherroaddietitian
Sweet & Spicy Air Fryer Sweetpotato Bites
Equipment
- air fryer
- Food processor
- Large bowl
- Potato ricer or masher
- Small scoop
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Small saucepan
- Two shallow dishes
Ingredients
- 2 medium sweetpotatoes (about 2 cups mashed sweetpotatoes)
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 ½ cups cornflakes
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- cooking spray
Hot Honey
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- fresh parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat airfryer to 370 F.
- Use a fork to poke holes into the sweetpotatoes, and set them on the air fryer basket.
- Air fry for 35-45 minutes or until you can easily pierce them with a fork.
- When sweetpotatoes are cool enough to handle, remove the skin and pass through a ricer into a large bowl.
- Once completely cooled, mix in 2 tablespoons of hot sauce and 1 egg until combined.
- Use a small scoop to measure sweetpotato mixture into balls (about 1 tablespoon) and place on a baking sheet. Freeze for 15-20 minutes until slightly firm.
- For Cornflake Dredge: In a food processor, add cornflakes, parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Pulse until you have fine crumbs. Pour into a shallow dish.
- In another shallow dish, beat 2 eggs until well combined.
- Once the balls are chilled, remove them from the freezer. Dredge sweetpotato balls, covering fully. Place back onto a baking sheet and return to freezer for 10 minutes.
- Place in air fryer about 1 inch apart. Lightly spray with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 400F for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.
- For Hot Honey: In a saucepan, warm together the honey, hot sauce, cayenne, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt.
- Garnish with hot honey, parsley, and parmesan cheese. Seve warm.