How to Make Sweet Potato and Bacon Bites with Creamy Mustard Dipping Sauce?

Ingredients

For the Sweet Potato and Bacon Bites

2 large sweet potatoes, unpeeled

2 strips bacon

3 cups vegetable oil

3 heaping tablespoons plain flour

Salt

For the Creamy Mustard Sauce

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

> For the sweet potato and bacon bites: Boil a pot of salted water. Add the potatoes and partially cook, about 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes and set aside.

> Meanwhile, add the bacon to a small skillet over medium heat and cook until crisp, about 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Finely chop the bacon when cooled.

> Heat the oil to 160°C in a straight-sided skillet.

> When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, shred the potatoes using either a box grater or shredding attachment on a food processor.

> Place 4 sheets of paper towels on a countertop. Dump the potatoes on top of the paper towels and fold the towels over the potatoes. Squeeze as much moisture out of the potatoes as possible. (This is the trick to make perfect potato bites; too much moisture will result in little pieces of potato all around your skillet when frying.) Combine the potatoes with the bacon, flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix well to combine.

> Form the potato mixture into small logs using a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon. Working in batches, fry the bites in the skillet until golden brown, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes. Adjust the heat, as needed, to keep the oil at 150°C. Transfer the tots to a paper-towel-lined plate to strain excess fat. Sprinkle the bites with salt while still warm.

> For the creamy mustard dipping sauce: Combine the mayo, honey and mustard in a small bowl. Sprinkle the sauce with salt and pepper.

> Serve the sweet potato and bacon bites hot with the creamy mustard dipping sauce.

> Recipe courtesy of Melissa d'Arabian