With the all the desserts around the holidays, I skip the brown sugar and the traditional marshmallow topping on the yams and add a little zing. This recipe for yams with orange bourbon sauce is super simple. The sauce has only 5 ingredients. I believe in keeping my side dishes easy so I can get to the Thanksgiving table without being a wreck. And by the way, even though this dish is simple to make, it does not mean that the flavor is simple. Yams are naturally sweet so just a little salt and tangy orange make for a perfectly balanced dish.
Orange-Bourbon Sauce
I use frozen concentrated orange juice (I always have a can in my freezer) for a strong pop of orange. If you can’t find the concentrated stuff, simmer 1 cup of orange juice in a pot over medium heat until it is reduced to 1/3 c.
With all the sweets and sweet dishes I like to add a kick to this dish and bourbon (or whiskey) is a great way to add that kick. If you prefer not to use alcohol, 2 tsps apple cider vinegar can be a substitute.
Since the yams are already sweet, just a tablespoon of maple syrup and some salt bring it all together. It’s very simple, there are just 6 ingredients.
Make Ahead
If you want to get a head start on your holiday meal these yams with orange-bourbon sauce is the perfect dish. The day before or even 2 days ahead, bake the yam slices in the pan for 30 minutes. Make the sauce, pour it into the baking dish with the partially cooked yams and store in the fridge. On the day of, give it a final bake for 35 minutes at 400°
Yams with Orange-Bourbon Sauce
This recipe for yams with orange bourbon sauce will add some zing to to your Thanksgiving or holiday meal.
Ingredients
- 4 yams (garnet or jewel)
- 3 Tbsp butter
- ⅓ c frozen concentrated orange juice (do not dilute, use it as is, from the can)
- 2 Tbsp bourbon or other whiskey
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°
- Rinse the yams and cut into rounds about 1/2″ thick. Layer them in a baking dish or cast iron skillet, overlapping each slice by a half.
- Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- While the yams are baking, get the sauce ready. Melt the butter and frozen o.j. in a skillet over medium heat. When the mixture starts to bubble stir in the bourbon and maple syrup and turn up the heat a little. Simmer for 2 minutes, add a couple pinches of salt and you’re done.
- When the yams have baked for 30 minutes (they’re not completely cooked yet) pour in the sauce, getting the top of the yams coated with sauce, and bake another 30 minutes.
- If you want to get a head start on your holiday meal, the day before or even 2 days ahead, bake the yam slices in the pan for 30 minutes. Make the sauce, pour it into the baking dish with the partially cooked yams and store in the fridge. On the day of, give it a final bake for 35 minutes at 400°
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