Charred Spring Onion Sweet Potato Salad
Warm salad of griddle-charred sweet potatoes and spring onions tossed with lamb's lettuce, crumbled feta, and toasted pumpkin seeds. Za'atar-spiced dressing with cider vinegar brings acidity and herbaceous depth. Quick assembly after potatoes simmer tender-firm.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ lb sweet potatoes, peeled
- 3 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing
- 1 ½ tbsp za'atar, or equal mixture dried thyme and sesame seedssumac + dried oregano + sesame1:1spiceherbal
acidic and herbaceous
- 9 oz green onions, trimmed and cut in half
- ½ clove garlic, crushed
- 1 ½ tbsp cider vinegar
- 5 ½ oz lamb's lettucearugula1:1vegetablepeppery
more bite, similar delicate structure
- 2 oz feta, crumbled
- 2 oz pumpkin seeds, lightly toasted in dry frying pan
Instructions
- 1
Boil whole sweet potatoes in salted water until tender but still firm, then drain and slice into thin discs.
- 2
Toss warm sweet potato slices with olive oil and za'atar.
- 3
Heat griddle pan until smoking. Brush green onions with olive oil and griddle until soft with char marks on both sides.
- 4
Griddle sweet potato slices in batches until char lines appear on both sides.
- 5
Whisk together olive oil, crushed garlic, cider vinegar, and za'atar for dressing.
- 6
Combine charred green onions and sweet potatoes with lamb's lettuce, feta, and toasted pumpkin seeds in a bowl, then toss with dressing.
Tips
Slice sweet potatoes consistently to 1cm thickness for even charring.
Keep griddle pan very hot and dry to achieve deep char marks without steaming.
Char potatoes in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
Toast pumpkin seeds briefly in a dry pan just before assembly to preserve crunch.
Good to Know
Leftovers keep refrigerated up to 2 days; dressing separates, retoss before serving.
Boil and slice sweet potatoes up to 4 hours ahead. Griddle components within 30 minutes of serving for optimal char and texture.
Serve warm or at room temperature as a light main or substantial side.
Common Mistakes
Overcrowd griddle pan to avoid steaming; char potatoes in batches.
Boil potatoes past tender-firm stage to prevent mushiness when griddling.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
General Alternatives
acidic and herbaceous