Name: Chef John's Candied Yams
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: Kosher salt - 3 tablespoons; Cold water - 2 quarts; Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces - 3 pounds; Brown sugar - 1 cup; Unsalted butter - 4 tablespoons; Freshly squeezed lemon juice - ½ cup; Maple syrup - ¼ cup; Ground ginger - ½ teaspoon; Ground cinnamon - ¼ teaspoon; Cayenne pepper - 1 pinch; Salt to taste - 1 pinch; Chopped pistachios, pecans, or walnuts for garnish - 1 pinch

Ingredients for - Chef John's Candied Yams

1. Kosher salt 3 tablespoons

2. Cold water 2 quarts

3. Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces 3 pounds

4. Brown sugar 1 cup

5. Unsalted butter 4 tablespoons

6. Freshly squeezed lemon juice ½ cup

7. Maple syrup ¼ cup

8. Ground ginger ½ teaspoon

9. Ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon

10. Cayenne pepper 1 pinch

11. Salt to taste 1 pinch

12. Chopped pistachios, pecans, or walnuts for garnish 1 pinch

How to cook deliciously - Chef John's Candied Yams

1 . Stage

Stir salt into 2 quarts of cold water in a large pot. Transfer sweet potato pieces to the pot and place over high heat; bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are not quite tender but still cooked, 5 to 7 minutes. Use the tip of a knife to test for doneness. Drain.

2 . Stage

Place brown sugar, butter, lemon juice, maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, and pinch of salt in a skillet. Place over medium-high heat, stirring until glaze ingredients melt and start bubbling. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until mixture begins to thicken, 4 to 6 minutes.

3 . Stage

Transfer drained sweet potatoes to a skillet. Increase heat to high; cook and stir until potatoes are coated with glaze and very tender, and glaze has thickened, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to serving dish; garnish with chopped nuts. Chef John