Candied Yams

This recipe, passed down from Memphis cook LouElla Hill, actually uses sweet potatoes, which are often called yams in the South. True yams are usually larger than sweet potatoes and range in color from off-white to purple. Whatever you call them, these turn out buttery, sweet, and brown.

  • Serves

    serves 6-8

Ingredients

  • 3 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2" pieces
  • Salt
  • 14 lb. butter
  • 12 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 tbsp. freshly grated orange zest
  • 12 cup lightly toasted chopped pecans
  • 23 cup brown sugar

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°. Cook sweet potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain; place in a buttered baking dish.

Step 2

Melt butter in a medium pan; add, orange juice, orange zest, pecans, and a pinch of salt. Pour butter sauce over yams; sprinkle brown sugar on top. Bake 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cook sweet potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain; place in a buttered baking dish.
  2. Melt butter in a medium pan; add, orange juice, orange zest, pecans, and a pinch of salt. Pour butter sauce over yams; sprinkle brown sugar on top. Bake 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Recipes

Candied Yams

  • Serves

    serves 6-8

BEN FINK

This recipe, passed down from Memphis cook LouElla Hill, actually uses sweet potatoes, which are often called yams in the South. True yams are usually larger than sweet potatoes and range in color from off-white to purple. Whatever you call them, these turn out buttery, sweet, and brown.

Ingredients

  • 3 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2" pieces
  • Salt
  • 14 lb. butter
  • 12 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1 tbsp. freshly grated orange zest
  • 12 cup lightly toasted chopped pecans
  • 23 cup brown sugar

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°. Cook sweet potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain; place in a buttered baking dish.

Step 2

Melt butter in a medium pan; add, orange juice, orange zest, pecans, and a pinch of salt. Pour butter sauce over yams; sprinkle brown sugar on top. Bake 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cook sweet potatoes in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain; place in a buttered baking dish.
  2. Melt butter in a medium pan; add, orange juice, orange zest, pecans, and a pinch of salt. Pour butter sauce over yams; sprinkle brown sugar on top. Bake 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Continue to Next Story

Want more SAVEUR?

Get our favorite recipes, stories, and more delivered to your inbox.