Stovetop Candied Sweet Potatoes with Pecans

Step 1

prepare a steam bath for the sweet potatoes; I filled a large pot with 1/2″ of water and placed a metal sieve over top of it. Once the water starts to steam, add in the sweet potatoes and cover. Steam for 10 to 12 minutes, until fork tender. Once tender, remove from the pot and set aside; save 2-3 tablespoons of the steaming water for step 3.

Step 2

Melt the butter in a large saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add in the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and salt and whisk well, until a glossy syrup forms. Add 1 tablespoon of the steaming liquid to the pot and quickly whisk until the brown sugar has melted (add more water only if necessary).

Step 3

Add the steamed sweet potatoes and pecans to the butter/sugar mixture, spreading them evenly across the pan. Use a spatula to flip or stir the mixture every 2 min, cooking for 10-12 minutes total. Potatoes are done when slightly browned and nuts are golden.

Step 4

Transfer to a serving dish and top with flaky salt, if desired. Serve warm; leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.