A few years ago, we drove to Wilmington for the day and had lunch at a place called Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn. I wasn't much in a burrito mood, so I decided to go with an order of Thai Nachos because peanut sauce is never not a good decision. But a massive plate of tortilla chips smothered in peanut sauce and cheese was a little much on a 90-something degree day, so by the time we finished lunch and started sightseeing, I was ready to pass out. There are many respectable reasons to pass out, like low blood sugar and having the vapors, but passing out because you've partaken in too many Thai Nachos is not a respectable reason. That is a shameful reason.
Even though I regretted those nachos that day, they were still a solid concept because like I said: peanut sauce. But how could I take this idea and make it less something you eat when you're 23 and super drunk and more something you eat when you're 33 and can only tolerate alcohol when it's mixed with large amounts of Sprite? Then Two Peas & Their Pod posted their Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos recipe and I knew. Sweet potatoes!
Instead of tortilla chips, I used thinly sliced roasted sweet potatoes. I skipped the cheese and piled my nachos high with cilantro, shredded carrots, diced red peppers, chopped peanuts, and, obviously, peanut sauce. The result is a less heavy, but still delicious!, version of the original.
This post was originally published on May 1, 2014.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes about 2 pounds, peeled and cut into ⅛-inch thick slices (use a mandoline slicer for best results)
- Oil mister
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 2-4 tablespoons water
- Pinch of red pepper flakes or sriracha to taste optional
- 1 small red bell pepper seeded and diced
- 1 small carrot peeled and shredded
- ½ cup roughly chopped cilantro
- ½ cup sliced green onions
- ¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF.
- Place the sweet potato slices on two baking sheets that have been sprayed with oil—they should be side-by-side, but not overlapping. Spray the tops with additional oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 10 minutes, then flip the slices over and bake for about 10 minutes more, until just beginning to crisp. Remove from the oven.
- While the sweet potatoes are roasting, start the peanut sauce. Whisk together the peanut butter, rice vinegar, tamari, sesame oil, sugar, ginger, garlic, and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. If the sauce is too thick, add more water one tablespoon at a time. (Different brands of peanut butter have different consistencies!) Add red pepper flakes or sriracha to taste, if using.
- Divide the sweet potato slices onto 4 plates and drizzle them with peanut sauce. Top with the diced pepper, shredded carrot, cilantro, green onions, and roasted peanuts and serve with a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
Cara's Healthy Cravings says
Sweet potatoes and peanut sauce, SOLD!
Two of the best things on earth put together 😉
Kiersten Frase says
They're two of my favorites too! 🙂
Gretchen @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Ohhhhh … using roasted sweet potatoes is genius!! Really - a truly fantastic idea!! I love sweet potatoes in any form … and as a base for a delicious nachos with peanut sauce has me wishing I had a big 'ol plate right beside me! YUM!!
Kiersten Frase says
Sweet potatoes and peanut sauce are really good together--even if you don't make nachos, you can bake a sweet potato and top it with the sauce. So tasty!
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
The nacho part drew me in but the sweet potatoes kept me reading!
Kathryn says
This is so smart! Sweet potatoes sound like the perfect base for all of that peanutty goodness.
lisacng @ expandng.com says
You are a genius. Puttin' it on my "gotta try" list! I can't resist a peanut sauce or healthier chips.
Kiersten Frase says
I hope you like them! 🙂
Emily @ Zen & Spice says
Oooh, my boyfriend would love this recipe. We love peanut sauce around here. This looks like a pretty cheap recipe too, if you already have some of the ingredients on hand!
Kiersten Frase says
Yeah, most of the sauce ingredients are things I usually have on hand and the toppings are things you can easily borrow from other recipes if you plan another meal or two that use carrots, cilantro, and green onions. 🙂
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says
I LOVE making sweet potato nachos, so this is totally right up my alley! Thai flavors go so well with sweet potatoes, and I love how creative this is 🙂
Julia Mueller says
Nachos are one of my favorite foods, ESPECIALLY when hungover. This is such a brilliant plate and the peanut sauce is giving me some serious heart flutters. Now I know what I will be eating the Sunday morning following my next girl's night out 😉
Kiersten Frase says
I totally love nachos way more than I should. But I usually put lots of veggies on them, so at least then they have some nutritional benefits, right?
Courtney @ The Fig Tree says
Such a great idea!!! Sweet potatoes nachos are great to begin with, but I love that you used Thai flavours to spice it up. So creative 🙂
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love thai flavors, what a fun recipe idea!
taylor @ greens & chocolate says
I agree - peanut sauce is always a good decision! These nachos look like my kinda nachos!
Meg van der Kruik says
Oh wow! I need that entire plate right now!!! Such a great idea Kiersten.
Nicha @ The Green Recipes says
This healthier version sounds much better to me and the peanut sauce...wow, what a great combination!!
Judit @ Wine Dine Daily says
Kiersten, this nachos are brilliant! Love the idea with sweet potatoes instead of the boring chips plus it is so much healthier.
Cheers,
J
Samantha @FerraroKitchen says
I could eat sweet potatoes with anything!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
These look amazing, such gorgeous flavours! I don't cook with sweet potatoes nearly often enough!
Kiersten Frase says
I think I probably cook with sweet potatoes too much--I love them! 🙂
Katie (The Muffin Myth) says
I love this idea! Because yes, peanut sauce, and also sweet potatoes. What an awesome combination.
Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa says
Oh my gosh, nachos! I haven't had these in forever! Definitely trying this recipe 🙂
Joanne says
You very much had me at peanut sauce. For obvious reasons.
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
Such a great idea! I love anything with sweet potatoes or peanut sauce, and the two of them together are always an unexpected but delightful combination!
Leah says
Do you think this would work with almond butter as that's all I have on hand?
Kiersten Frase says
The flavor wouldn't be the same, but it would definitely work--I make sauces with almond butter all the time. 🙂
Peter P says
I added in a BUNCH of sriracha cause I like it spicy, but this is EASY. And tasted amazing. The combination of the toppings was perfect - definitely didn't need cheese. It's not heavy at all ~ And I'm happy there was a lot of extra peanut sauce left over, because I am gonna use that for another dish.
Thanks for the GREAT recipe / alteration.
Kiersten Frase says
I agree, the more sriracha, the better. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe!
Alyson says
I made these tonight and they were DELICIOUS. But my sweet potato chips didn't crisp up. What did I do wrong? I have a thermometer in my oven that said it was 400F. I don't have a mister, so I tossed the slices with olive oil like you recommended. I'd love any advice, because I definitely want to make these again.
Kiersten Frase says
Sweet potatoes are tricky to get crispy in the oven - they have a tendency to go from not crispy to burnt pretty quickly. I'd just leave them in a little bit longer next time. If you didn't use a mandoline slicer and the slices were a little bit thicker, they could take a bit longer. And usually the entire slice won't be crispy, just the edges.
Alyson says
Ah, thanks!
Katie says
AMAZING!!!!! I served these at a party and instantly everyone was asking for the recipe. HUGE HIT! I have made them several times since. Yummy!
Kiersten Frase says
Woo hoo! I'm glad they were a success - thanks for your comment! 🙂
Sophie says
Great recipe, nice and easy too!