Recipe: Chef Phil Scarfone’s Roasted Sweet Potato with Charred Scallion Crème Fraîche, Jalapeño and Smoked Bacon

Chef Phil Scarfone’s Roasted Sweet Potato with Charred Scallion Crème Fraîche, Jalapeño and Smoked Bacon

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 3 medium-sized sweet potatoes, scrubbed
• 8 slices smoked bacon
• 2 tbsp canola oil
• Butter
• Olive oil
• Salt
• 9 tbsp charred scallion crème fraîche (recipe follows)
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeds removed,  chopped finely
• 3 scallions, sliced thinly across the grain

Method

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Poke sweet potatoes all over with a fork and rub skin with salt and olive oil. Place on a parchment-lined tray. On a separate parchment-lined tray, place bacon slices in a single layer. Place both trays in oven.

2. When bacon is done (13 to 15 minutes), remove that tray from oven and place bacon on paper towels to absorb excess grease. While potatoes continue to cook, chop bacon finely, place back on paper towels, and set aside.

3. When sweet potatoes are tender (approximately 45 minutes to an hour in total), remove from oven, cool to room temperature and slice in half lengthwise.

4. Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat, then add canola oil and a small knob of butter. Melt butter until it foams, add a few pinches of salt to the pan, then add sweet potatoes, flat side down. Transfer to oven and cook for approximately 8 minutes or until surface of potatoes is golden brown.

5. Transfer sweet potatoes to a serving dish, flat side up. Add crème fraîche to cover most of the surface of the potatoes, followed by the scallions and jalapeño pepper.

6. Finish with bacon and some flaky sea salt.

Charred Scallion Crème Fraîche

Ingredients

• ½ cup scallions
• 1 ¼ cups sour cream
• ⅓ cup buttermilk
• 2 tsp chopped parsley
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper, toasted and ground

Method

1. Preheat barbecue or grill pan to high heat.

2. Grill scallions until char marks appear.

3. Cool immediately and chop finely.

4. Combine with remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.

5. Check seasoning, and reserve in the fridge until needed.