Soul Food Candied Yams

# What You Need:

→ Yams

01 - 3 large yams (approximately 2 pounds), peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds

→ Syrup

02 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar

03 - 6 tablespoons unsalted butter

04 - 1/4 cup water

05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

08 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Optional Garnish

09 - 1/4 cup chopped pecans

# Directions:

01 - Melt butter in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add brown sugar, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to simmer.

02 - Arrange yam slices evenly in the skillet, turning gently to coat thoroughly in the syrup mixture.

03 - Cover skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 20 minutes, gently stirring and turning yams occasionally to ensure even cooking.

04 - Remove lid and increase heat to medium. Continue cooking for 10 to 15 minutes, spooning syrup over yams frequently until they are fork-tender and sauce becomes thick and glossy.

05 - Stir in vanilla extract. Transfer to serving dish and sprinkle with chopped pecans if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -

The whole thing comes together in under an hour, and most of that time the skillet does the work while you handle other dishes.
Those caramelized edges and glossy syrup taste like you spent all day cooking, but the method is genuinely simple.
It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free, so it works for almost any table without feeling like a compromise.

02 -

Don't peek constantly or stir aggressively during the first 20 minutes—you want the yams to hold their shape and create those little caramelized spots that make this dish special.
The sauce will thicken more as it cools, so if it looks a bit loose when you turn off the heat, don't panic; it's supposed to.

03 -