Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette
Lighten up classic potato salad with roasted sweet potato salad tossed with cilantro, scallions, and a honey-lime vinaigrette.
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Roasted Sweet Potato Salad has been making an appearance on my menu plans for over five years, but it was high time I gave it a makeover here on the blog. Chances are you didn’t even know this recipe existed since it’s original posting dates back to 2013. So just in time for barbecue season, during which potato salad is a classic side dish to accompany hot dogs and burgers, here’s the new and improved recipe.
Although we’re still a couple months away from the summer barbecue season, this sweet potato salad is the perfect dish to bring on a spring picnic. It’s delicious straight from the oven, but equally as good room temperature.
Sweet Potatoes All Year Round
It may seem a little peculiar to share a sweet potato recipe for the spring and summer months, seeing as root vegetables are at their prime during the fall and winter. But the thing is, sweet potatoes (or yams, as they are commonly labeled in supermarkets) are available all year long. And in my house, they are a side dish that gets asked for and eaten all year long.
At the moment, one of my daughters is going through some selective eating and roasted sweet potatoes are one of the view veggies she will happily consume, so I would be at a complete loss if I didn’t make them all twelve months of the year!
Making Sweet Potato Salad
Making the salad is quite simple (did you see the video above?). You cube and roast the sweet potatoes (your choice whether you or not you peel them) and then toss them with chopped scallions, cilantro, and a light honey-lime vinaigrette. If the kids at your table aren’t a fan of the garnishes, separate the roasted sweet potatoes into two bowls and toss one with only the vinaigrette or simply season the sweet potatoes with salt. More of the composed salad for you!
Personally I like to serve the dish as it is intended so that the kids are exposed to all the flavors – even if they pick the garnishes out and just eat the sweet potatoes. Exposure to new foods is a large part of how kids learn to broaden their palates, but I know cilantro can be a very divisive herb, so I’ll grant you permission to withhold it if you must!
Serving Suggestions
I originally developed this recipe as a healthier alternative to the classic mayo-laden potato salad commonly served at my family’s summer barbecues. Now this sweet potato salad plays a much larger role in my house than barbecue season. I often serve it warm from the oven as a side dish with my Miso-Glazed Chicken or Cilantro Lime Steak, but it is just as delicious added cold to a salad, grain bowl, or simply eaten on its own. (If I do the latter, I like to add a salty cheese like feta.)
Whether at your next picnic or summer barbecue, I hope you give this roasted sweet potato salad a try. And if you do, be sure to let me know how you like it in the comments below!
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Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette
Lighten up classic potato salad with roasted sweet potato salad tossed with cilantro, scallions, and a honey lime vinaigrette.
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 pounds (~5 large) sweet potatoes,, peeled and cubed
- 4 tablespoons olive oil,, divided
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, (~ 1 lime)
- 1 teaspoon honey, (add more to taste, up to 2 teaspoons)
- 1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper,, to taste
- 1 cup chopped scallions
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with aluminum foil. Toss cubed sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil and roast for 30 minutes, shaking the pans and turning the sweet potatoes every so often until they are evenly cooked and lightly crisp. Remove from oven and let cool about 5 to 10 minutes.
- In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, lime juice, honey, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the cooled sweet potatoes to a large bowl, add the scallions, and coat with vinaigrette. Add the chopped cilantro and gently toss everything together, being sure the potatoes don't get mushy in the process. Serve warm or room temperature.
Notes
If preferred, do not peel the sweet potatoes.
This looks amazing!! Can’t wait to give this a try at my next BBQ!
Thanks so much Katie. It’s a fan favorite at every barbecue we have! Hope you enjoy it!
Love this lightened up version of a potato salad!
Thanks so much! Hope you enjoy it this spring and summer, and all year round!
The flavors in this sound amazing! I love sweet potato anything, but a twist on classic potato salad is a great idea 🙂
Thanks so much Tara. It’s quite yummy!
I love this update on a classic! Healthy and delicious
Thanks so much Deborah. Hope you enjoy it this spring and summer!
This salad looks like the perfect lunch to fuel my day!
It’s yummy! I like to add feta cheese and/or black beans to make this a full lunch meal!
I love a good sweet potato salad, and even better when it’s mayo free! Perfecto!
So glad you agree Kelly! Enjoy!
LOVE anything with sweet potato and love this video!
Same here! Thanks so much Maria!
Glad you brought this one up for a refresh. I’ll be adding this to my menu as well!
So happy to hear that Lorie!! Enjoy.
I can eat sweet potatoes in any form and this salad would be no exception! yum!
Same here Lindsey, but roasted is definitely my favorite 😉 Hope you enjoy this soon!
This looks divine Jessica! I love the flavors of sweet potato and lime together. I might be tempted to throw in a little avocado, too.
Thanks Alisa, it’s a great flavor combo. And definitely would be delish with some avocado. Now I know what I’m adding the next time I make this Sweet Potato Salad!
Funny enough I actually don’t like sweet potatoes UNLESS their roasted 😀
Well then this recipe is perfect for you Shelby!
Sweet potatoes are my favorite right now! This salad is beautiful!
So happy to hear that and I hope you enjoy this salad. Thanks 🙂
The honey + lime, scallions and cilantro- wow, so yummy!!
Thanks Megan, it’s a delicious combo!
I’m a complete sucker for sweet potato anything and everything and this salad looks delicious!!
Haha you will love this then! Enjoy!
Love how simple and delicious this salad looks! Perfect for a gathering. Yum!
Thanks Christine. It’s really so easy and a crowd pleaser!
I love how light and Springy this is as opposed to super heavy and creamy like a traditional potato salad. Can’t wait to try this!
Thanks so much Shannon. Hope you enjoy it!
I love sweet potato and this salad looks so delicious and healthy! Such a great idea for dinner!
Thanks! It’s a great side dish or main course if you add some protein!
What a delicious Roasted Sweet Potato Salad! I simply cannot wait to try it! Very interesting combination of ingredients. I am saving this recipe for later.
Thanks so much Veena! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
This is going on my list of summer salads! I am not a huge fan of the mayo based salads and the dressing for this sounds fabulous (using some of my favorite flavors).
Woohoo! Can’t wait for you to try it Shelby! The dressing is great on green salads too!
Such a refreshing salad, love that you used sweet potato, it makes it so much lighter, will make it for our next get-together!
Thanks Patty. Can’t wait to hear how you enjoy it!
What a deliciously colourful salad! I love sweet potato, I should use it in salads more!
Thanks Bintu. Sweet potatoes in salad are delicious!
I love this lightened version, I am so excited to try this recipe with sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes! The honey lime vinaigrette sounds amazing too!
Thanks Emily! Can’t wait for you to make it – you’ll love it!
I love the flavors here! I rarely ever tend to combine sweet potatoes with lime or to use them in anything other than one-pot dishes. Great inspiration!
Thanks Rebecca. I hope you enjoy it – it’s a really yummy combination!
I am all over these flavors, especially that vinaigrette! And all that cilantro…swoooooon!
Yes! Bring on the cilantro! It’s one of my favorite herbs. Hope you enjoy 🙂
I have been looking for recipes to use sweet potatoes and this looks like the perfect one!
So happy to hear that! I hope you enjoy it Brynn!
Love anything with sweet potato!!! mmm
You’ll love this then Tawnie!
I would DEFINITELY choose this sweet potato salad. I’m not a fan of the traditional! Saving this for later!
Love hearing that! Hope you enjoy it!
This looks very attractive…! Anybody attract towards this dish. Thanks for sharing. I’ll try this.
Thanks! Can’t wait for you to make it!
We love sweet potatoes so I decided to give this a try even though we are not fans of cilantro. Sure enough we liked it except the cilantro. Now we eat it a lot minus the cilantro. Thanks for a new spin on this wonderful potato.
I’m so glad you tried this sweet potato salad Marion! Sorry you didn’t like the cilantro – it’s definitely a divisive herb! My father in law doesn’t like it either, but he actually loved this salad — he didn’t know what was in it 😉
Thank you for the great recipe! I made it this weekend and it was delicious. I cubed the sweet potatoes and cooked them with cherrywood on my smoker for additional flavor. Definitely a keeper!
I’m so glad to hear that Jeff! Thank you for sharing your positive review and feedback. Enjoy!