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Top and closeup view of one hasselback sweet potato on a white plate. It has a scallion pesto topping
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Air Fryer Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Scallion Pesto (Vegan)

Vegan Air Fryer Hasselback Sweet Potatoes topped with scallion pesto is I use baby sweet potatoes which require no peeling and are ready in just 20 minutes or less. Easy Vegan Thanksgiving side dish that doesn't need an oven.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 people
Calories 200kcal
Author Rini

Equipment

  • COSORI Air Fryer
  • Food chopper or Food Processor
  • 2 Chopsticks

Ingredients

For the baby sweet potatoes

  • 4 baby sweet potatoes thoroughly washed
  • 2 Tbsp vegan butter or regular butter

For the scallion pesto

  • 1 bunch scallions roughly chopped
  • 1 cup basil loosely packed
  • 1.5 tsp pine nuts lightly roasted
  • 2 Tbsp cashews optional
  • 1 tsp nutritional yeast
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 3 Tbsp water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp lime juice fresh lime juice is better

Instructions

To make the sweet potatoes in the air fryer

  • Cut a small piece of both ends of the sweet potato
    Top view of a baby sweet potato with small ends cut off. A chopping knife is next to it.
  • Place chop sticks (or metal straws) on the sides of the baby sweet potato
    Top view of one baby sweet potato cradled by two chopsticks and sitting on a white chopping board. A large chopping knife is next to it.
  • Cut about 0.03″ or the width of the chop stick
    Top view of a knife cutting the baby sweet potato into hasselback style
  • Place wax paper at the bottom of the air fryer basket and put 4 of the cut sweet potatoes on it
    Top view of cut hasselback sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket
  • Melt and baste the butter on top of the sweet potatoes
    Top view of buttered hasselback sweet potatoes in the air fryer basket
  • Place the basket in the air fryer and set it to 350°. Set the time to 15 minutes.
    front view of the display panel of the COSORI air fryer displaying the tempreture of 350°F and cook time of 15 min
  • After 15 minutes, turn off the air fryer. Remove from the basket. See Note #1
    top view of 4 air fryed sweet potatoes with hasselback cut

To make the scallion pesto

  • While the sweet potatoes are in the air fryer, make the pesto. Put the ingredients in a food processor
    Top view of the ingredients needed to make the pesto. The ingredients are in a blender
  • Blend the ingredients until it's a sauce consistency
    Top view of a blended scallion pesto sauce in the blender
  • Drizzle the sauce over the baby sweet potatoes and serve immediately
    Top view of 4 baby hasselback sweet potatoes with a scallion pesto topping on a white plate

Notes

**** CALORIES INFORMATION IS APPROXIMATE.  CONSULT A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION.
Notes
#1 - Do the knife test by poking the bottom of the roasted sweet potato to see if it goes through easily.  If not, put it back in the air fryer for up to 5 more minutes.
TIPS
  • Make sure you wash the sweet potatoes. Even if they come in a bag that is labeled "ready to microwave", you MUST wash them. They never clean it properly and there will always be dirt on them.
  • Use mini sweet potatoes because they will be easy to cook in the air fryer. If you use the bigger sweet potatoes, you will have to adjust the ingredients and the air fryer cook time.
  • Every air fryer is different. So, you may have to cook them longer or shorter. I think generally, the optimal temperature is 350°F and cook time will be about 15-20 minutes
  • While you are cooking them in the air fryer, you need nothing but butter on it. Once you pull them out of the air fryer, then top it with the scallion pesto
  • You should be able to cook about 6-8 at once. I cooked only 4 at once.
  • I like to serve these hasselback sweet potatoes right out of the air fryer. I think they are at their best when served hot.
  • I didn't end up using all the scallion pesto I made. Lucky for me, it can be refrigerated and used to make more hasselback sweet potatoes in the future.
  • Use chop sticks or metal straws to frame the bottom of the sweet potatoes.