Sweet Potato Burnt Ends
Other than burnt ends and sauce, Kansas City BBQ, at least real KC BBQ, is known for something else….sweet potatoes! Growing up as a kid, my absolute favorite thing to eat in the world was a Messy Marty sandwich with a side of sweet potato fries at Marty’s BBQ up in the Northland in KC. A lot of hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints in Kansas City for many years and even some still today also include sweet potatoes as a protein/main option right along side brisket, chicken, pork, etc. for plates and sandwiches. Yes, plant based BBQ has been served on Kansas City menus for decades! Sweet potatoes have gained a lot of popularity and can now be found on restaurant menus far and wide in the form of fries and tots mostly. But, what most people don’t know is that sweet potatoes also make incredibly tasty burnt ends, and if done right, they are one of the most addictive foods you will ever eat, plant based or otherwise!
Ingredients
2 Large sweet potatoes or yams
1 Tbsp of Fool’s Gold Original or Sweet Potato Burnt Ends Rub
1 cup of Fool’s Gold Original BBQ Sauce
Prep
Clean and scrub the sweet potatoes thoroughly.
Cut into square chunks about the size of brisket burnt ends. 1/2 to 1 inch cubes.
Massage the Rub into and on the sweet potato chunks thoroughly.
Note: Smoking times and temperatures will vary based on your smoking method, equipment, etc. The great thing about smoking plant based food is that it really can’t be ruined (might not be amazing if overcooked) unless you just forget about it, which I do not recommend, unless you like your food cremated!
Smoker Cooking
Temp: 225 | Time: 2-3 hours | Woods: Hickory, Alder, Cherry
Oven Smoker Bag Cooking
Can also be used on any grill or over a campfire
Temp: 475 for 10-15 minutes then 375 for 30-45 minutes | Time: 1 hour | Woods: Hickory, Alder, Cherry
Range Top Smoker Cooking
Temp: Medium heat | Time: 35-60 minutes | Woods: Hickory, Alder, cherry
Regular Range or Oven Cooking
It’s also possible to use your regular oven or stove (times and temps vary). But, using a smoker or smoker bag will yield a more authentic “smoked bbq” flavor. Do NOT under any circumstances add liquid smoke to any of these recipes or I will hunt you down!
Finish
Finish on the stove in a hot skillet with Fool’s Gold Sauce (as much as you like) . . . and leave some sauce for dipping if that’s your thang like it is Mine!
Serve
Serve along with any of our great recipes; this pairs nicely over Smoked Spaghetti Squash with a dollop of coleslaw! Also makes amazing tacos, burritos, pizza topping or in soup and chili!
Pro Tips
If you are cooking for a large group or meal prepping you do not need to do the last finishing step of the recipe. Just cool and wrap the sweet potatoes and store in the refrigerator until you are ready to use and finish it off with some sauce at that time.
Just before finishing it on the stove, toss it in a little sauce and put in oven or air fryer to crisp it up a bit before proceeding to finish. Or skip the sauce and just crisp them up as a great side to any dish!