Spicy Crockpot Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• 4 lb. orange-fleshed sweet potatoes
• 2-3 T olive oil, divided
• Non-stick spray for crockpot
• 1 T sweet potato spice mix, divided, see below
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste
• Sea salt to taste
• 2-3 T butter to add to the top of the sweet potatoes
• 2 T ground coriander
• 1 T ground fennel
• 1 T dried oregano
• 2 T kosher salt

Directions

1. Break down the herbs in a spice grinder, or use a mortar with a pestle, then stir in the salt.
2. Peel the sweet potatoes, then cut them into 1-2 inch square pieces. Move them to a big bowl. Start by sprinkling in 1 tsp. spice mix and drizzling with 1 T olive oil, then turn everything over until the seasoning starts to cling. Repeat with another tablespoon of olive oil plus another teaspoon of spice mix, then toss again. For the final pass, add olive oil, a tablespoon (or less), follow with another teaspoon of spice mix, and give the bowl another good toss. Please do not shortcut this by dumping in the oil and spices together; the gradual approach is what gets the pieces evenly covered.
3. Coat the crock with non-stick spray, or rub it lightly with olive oil. Add the sweet potatoes to the crockpot, nudging them toward a single layer as much as possible, and scatter on a little butter if you want it. Set the heat to high, stir a couple of times while they cook, and discard any water that collects beneath the lid.
4. After about 3 hours, the sweet potatoes should be tender all the way through and smell nicely spiced. If you want, mash them lightly, then season to taste with sea salt and fresh ground black pepper. For extra color, you can also put them in an oven pre-heated to 450F/220C and let them brown for 15-20 minutes. That browning step is optional. Serve them hot; add a bit more butter on top if you like.
5. To work ahead, cut the sweet potatoes earlier in the day and toss them with the olive oil and seasoning. After cooking, if timing gets wobbly, hold them for a few hours using the low or warm setting on the crockpot.