Step 1: You will need
•650 g yams or sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
•150 g brown sugar
•100 ml water
•1 tbsp lemon juice
•1 tbsp sherry
•1 tsp vanilla extract
•2 tbsp maple syrup
•2 tbsp olive oil
•4 tbsp toasted almonds
•salt and pepper
•1 roasting tray
•1 saucepan
•1 spoon
•1 oven-proof dish
Step 2: Preheat the oven
Set the temperature of the oven to 220°C.
Step 3: Season the yams
Place the yams in the roasting tray. Add the oil and season with salt and with pepper. Thoroughly coat the surface using your hands, and place them into the oven.
Videojug Tip
The yams can be boiled but they will lose a great deal of texture and flavour.
Step 4: Make the syrup
Heat the saucepan over a medium-high heat. Add the sugar, water, lemon juice, sherry, vanilla and maple syrup. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside until the yams are done.
Step 5: Test the yams
Keep checking on the yams, making sure that they do not burn on the bottom by turning them over occasionally. At around 20-25 minutes, test them with a knife to see if they are cooked. The knife should enter easily without resistance. At this point, transfer them to the oven-proof dish.
Step 6: Add the syrup
Pour the syrup over the sweet potatoes and return them to the oven. Let them warm through, giving the syrup time to caramelize. This should take about 25 minutes. Finally, remove from the oven.
Step 7: Serve
Your Thanksgiving Yams are almost ready for table. All that is left is to sprinkle them with some toasted almonds. They will go well with your turkey, your ham, and everything else on the table.