Harissa Sweet Potatoes

These sticky Harissa Sweet Potatoes are everything a great vegetarian dish should be: bold, flavourful, and deceptively simple to make. The hasselback technique adds texture, turning ordinary roasted sweet potatoes into something a little more special. Each slit allows the smoky harissa glaze to seep in, giving every bite a balance of spice, sweetness, and tang. Paired with creamy tahini yoghurt and topped with coriander and pomegranate seeds, this dish is vibrant, satisfying, and packed with layers of flavour.

Whether it’s a dinner party centrepiece or an easy weeknight side, this recipe is the kind you’ll keep coming back to. Watch me make it here.

Table of Contents

• Ingredient Breakdown
• Why Hasselback these Harissa Sweet Potatoes?
• The Sticky Harissa Glaze Makes these Sweet Potatoes Extra Special
• Tahini Yoghurt: The Perfect Base for Harissa Sweet Potatoes
• Adding Freshness with Pomegranate and Coriander
• How to Serve your Sticky Harissa Sweet Potatoes
• Final Thoughts
• More Sweet Potato Recipes

Ingredient Breakdown

• Sweet potatoes: Their natural sweetness pairs perfectly with the smoky glaze, and they roast beautifully.
• Extra-virgin olive oil: Helps the potatoes roast evenly, enhancing their flavour and crisping the edges.
• Harissa paste: A smoky, spicy base for the glaze that coats the potatoes.
• Maple syrup: Adds sweetness to balance the harissa’s heat and helps the glaze caramelise.
• Lemon: Zest and juice bring acidity to brighten the glaze and balance the dish.
• Natural yoghurt: Creamy and tangy, it cools the spice of the harissa and acts as a base for the potatoes.
• Tahini: Adds depth and nuttiness to the yoghurt, making it richer and more flavourful.
• Fresh coriander: A bright, herbaceous garnish that complements the glaze.
• Pomegranate seeds: For bursts of sweetness and a little crunch, balancing the creamy and spicy elements.

Why Hasselback these Harissa Sweet Potatoes?

The hasselback technique is a simple way to elevate these Harissa Sweet Potatoes. Slicing them into thin, even slits creates extra surface area, allowing them to roast more evenly. The edges crisp up, while the centres remain soft and tender. These slits also make it easier for the harissa glaze to coat the potatoes completely, ensuring the flavour reaches every bite.

If you’ve ever struggled to achieve perfect slices without cutting through the potato, there’s a trick: use chopsticks or wooden spoons as guides. Place them on either side of the sweet potato while you slice, and you’ll prevent the knife from going all the way through.

This technique makes the presentation striking as well. The fanned-out layers of the sweet potato catch the glaze and toppings beautifully, turning them into a centrepiece-worthy dish.

The Sticky Harissa Glaze Makes these Sweet Potatoes Extra Special

The glaze is where the bold flavours of this Harissa Sweet Potatoes dish come together. Harissa paste provides smoky heat, maple syrup adds sweetness, and lemon juice ties everything together with a bright, tangy finish.

To get the most out of the glaze, timing is essential. Brush it on after the potatoes have roasted for 20 minutes. This allows the sweet potatoes to cook through without the glaze burning. Once added, the glaze caramelises in the oven, creating a glossy, sticky coating.

Make sure to brush the glaze generously, working it into the slits of the sweet potatoes. The result is a beautifully caramelised exterior that contrasts with the soft, buttery interior. Save a bit of the glaze to drizzle over the finished dish for an extra hit of flavour.

Tahini Yoghurt: The Perfect Base for Harissa Sweet Potatoes

The tahini yoghurt is more than just a base—it’s the element that brings the whole dish together. Its creaminess offsets the spice of the harissa while adding a subtle nuttiness that complements the sweet potatoes.

To make the tahini yoghurt, whisk tahini and natural yoghurt with a pinch of salt and pepper until smooth. The mixture should be thick enough to hold its shape when spread on a plate but not so thick that it feels heavy.

The yoghurt acts as a cooling layer that balances the bold flavours of the Harissa Sweet Potatoes. Spread it generously on your serving plate before arranging the sweet potatoes on top, and don’t be shy about adding an extra drizzle of the glaze over everything.

Adding Freshness with Pomegranate and Coriander

The finishing touches on these Harissa Sweet Potatoes are just as important as the glaze and yoghurt. Coriander adds a fresh, herbaceous note, cutting through the richness of the dish. Pomegranate seeds, on the other hand, bring bursts of sweetness and a slight crunch.

Scatter the coriander and pomegranate seeds liberally over the dish just before serving. These toppings not only brighten the flavours but also make the presentation more inviting. If you don’t have pomegranate seeds, you could swap them for chopped pistachios or dried cranberries for a similar effect.

How to Serve your Sticky Harissa Sweet Potatoes

This Harissa Sweet Potatoes dish works wonderfully as a centrepiece, but it’s versatile enough to pair with other components. Serve it with roasted fish or meats and crisp green salad for a complete meal. My Garlic and Chilli Butter Salmon, Simple Lemon Chicken and Harissa Lamb all work very nicely.

If you’re making this as part of a larger spread, these Harissa Sweet Potatoes complement Middle Eastern or North African-inspired dishes beautifully. Think Lamb Kofta, a herby tabbouleh, or a smoky aubergine dip like my Roasted Garlic Baba Ganoush.

For leftovers (if you have any!), the sweet potatoes reheat well, but they’re also great cold. Store them separately from the yoghurt, as the tahini base is best served cold.

Final Thoughts

These sticky Harissa Sweet Potatoes are proof that a few simple ingredients can create a dish that’s both striking and delicious. The hasselback technique, sticky harissa glaze, and creamy tahini yoghurt all work together to deliver bold flavours and contrasting textures.

Whether you’re serving it as a vegetarian centrepiece or a side dish, this recipe brings the kind of balance and vibrancy that makes every bite exciting. Give it a try—you might just find it becomes one of your go-to recipes for impressing guests with minimal effort.

More Sweet Potato Recipes

Looking to explore more sweet potato recipes? Why not try one of these?

• Sticky Tahini Butter Sweet Potatoes: They’re so simple to make and come together in the time it takes to bake a sweet potato. These are a must-try for your next dinner party.
• Sweet Potato Hummus: An autumnal twist on a classic hummus, make with roasted sweet potato.
• Honey Nut Sweet Potatoes: Roasted sweet potatoes, served with lemony, garlicky yoghurt and a spicy, honey nut glaze