Storage
The wedges are best fresh, but the dip is a great make-ahead. Keep it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 7 days. It doubles as a ketchup replacement for the whole family.
Crispy Sweet Potato Wedges with Smoky Carob BBQ Dip
Ditch the sugary store-bought sauces. Roasted carob gives this kid-friendly BBQ dip its deep, molasses-like flavour without heaps of brown sugar.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 35 min
- Makes
- 4 snack-sized servings
- Dairy free
- Gluten free
- Vegan
- Egg free
- Soy free
- Caffeine free
- Nut free
“Growing up in a Trinidadian household, sweet potatoes were a staple, and I wanted to create a homemade BBQ dip for my kids that uses roasted carob instead of heaps of brown sugar to get that deep, rich, molasses-like flavour.”
Method
- 1
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment.
- 2
Halve the sweet potatoes lengthwise, then cut each half into 4 to 6 even wedges.
- 3
Toss the wedges with the oil and ½ tsp salt until evenly coated.
- 4
Spread them out in a single layer without touching, so they crisp instead of steam. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway, until tender inside and caramelised at the edges.
- 5
While they bake, combine the tomato paste, water, vinegar, carob powder, maple syrup, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and salt in a small saucepan.
- 6
Whisk over medium-low heat for 3 to 5 minutes at a gentle simmer so the carob dissolves and the spices bloom.
- 7
Take the dip off the heat and let it cool slightly. It thickens as it cools. Serve warm or chilled with the wedges.
Good to know
The heat upgrade
For older kids with adventurous palates, add ¼ tsp cayenne or a dash of hot sauce to the dip while it simmers.
Zucchini fries swap
When summer squash is everywhere, swap in zucchini sticks. Toss them in a little cornstarch or arrowroot before roasting so they crisp up.
Scale it up
For about 1 quart of sauce, multiply the dip ingredients by 4 and simmer in a medium pot for 10 minutes. Bake the wedges in half-sheet pans.
Soft-texture option
Steam or boil the sweet potatoes until completely soft, mash, and swirl 1 to 2 tablespoons of the warm dip straight into the mash.
Why this works
The nutrition behind the recipe
Carobium roasted carob powder
In savoury sauces carob brings the deep, caramelised notes you'd normally get from brown sugar or molasses, without the refined sugar. It's caffeine-free and adds a small amount of polyphenols.
Sweet potatoes
Skin on means more fibre. Half a medium sweet potato is an excellent source of beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A.
Tomato paste
A concentrated source of lycopene. Cooking it with a little fat from the wedges' oil helps the body absorb it.
This information is for educational purposes and is not medical advice.
