Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Figs with a Balsamic Glaze

For the potatoes:
Preheat the oven to 475°F. Wash the sweet potatoes, halve them lengthwise, and then cut each half again lengthwise into 3 long wedges. Put them into a large bowl. Mix with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt and some black pepper.

Spread the wedges out, skin side down, on a rimmed baking sheet and cook for about 25 minutes, until soft but not mushy. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

Add the balsamic vinegar and sugar into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat and simmer for 2 to 4 minutes, until it thickens. Be sure to remove the pan from the heat when the vinegar is still runnier than the honey; it will continue to thicken as it cools. Stir in a drop of water before serving if it does become too thick to drizzle.

Arrange the sweet potatoes on a serving platter.

Heat the remaining oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and add the green onions and chile. Fry for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring often to make sure not to burn the chile. Spoon the oil, onions, and chile over the sweet potatoes. Dot the figs among the wedges and then drizzle the balsamic reduction over the top. Serve at room temperature. Crumble the cheese over the top, if using.

Adapted from Ottolenghi’s Jerusalem.