Carolina Gold Sweet Potato Dipping Sauce
Roasting sweet potatoes makes them even sweeter, and turns the flesh of the potato soft and silky instead of floury, like what happens with a regular roasted potato. This means sweet potatoes are just a nudge away from being turned into a dipping sauce, and in this case, a sauce that’s got a sweet and savory, comforting, down-home balance.
This sauce was made to be thick and clingy, and perfect for dipping. We do not recommend making it any thinner to use for drizzling. This is the perfect sauce to serve with Grilled Carolina Gold BBQ Tofu Skewers.
1 medium-to-large sweet potato, 13-14 ounces
1 small shallot, peeled and roughly chopped
1 large garlic clove, unpeeled
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 cup apple cider
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1-2 Tablespoons Carolina Gold BBQ Rub
1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Cut sweet potato in half and place, cut side down, on a baking sheet. Put shallot and garlic clove in a piece of foil. Toss with olive oil and wrap tightly, then place on the baking sheet. Put everything in the oven.
3. Roast potato for 25 minutes, checking for doneness by trying to pierce to the center of the potato with a sharp knife. If it slides in easily, the potato is done. If there is resistance, put it back in the oven for another 15 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through. Also check to see if shallots and garlic are soft, and remove if they are soft and fully cooked.
4. When potato is cooked, remove from heat and let it get cool enough to handle. Then slip the skin off the potato and put into a large workbowl.
5. Squeeze garlic out of its skin and right into the workbowl with the potato. Add shallot. Mash together. Then pour in apple cider and apple cider vinegar and combine. Add 1 Tablespoon Carolina Gold BBQ Rub and taste test. One tablespoon will give it a savory boost, two tablespoons will make it more spicy.
6. This sauce will be chunky at this stage. You can leave it this way for a rustic appearance, or run it through a blender for an even texture. Test for thickness and add a splash more cider if you want it to be thinner.
