Molasses Horseradish Sweet Potato Spears

Ingredients

• 0.3 cup horseradish (including juice; 3 oz)
• 0.3 cup blackstrap molasses (not robust or blackstrap)
• 1.3 teaspoons salt 
• 3 lb sweet potatoes and into peeled cut lengthwise into 8 spears
• 5 tablespoons butter unsalted
• 0.3 cup vegetable oil 

Equipment

• bowl
• sauce pan
• oven
• sieve
• blender
• baking pan

Directions

1. Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 450°F.
2. If potato spears are very long, halve them diagonally. Toss potatoes with oil and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, then spread in 1 layer in a large shallow baking pan (1 inch deep). Roast in lower third of oven, turning once or twice, until tender, 18 to 22 minutes. Leave oven on.
3. While potatoes roast, bring butter, molasses, horseradish (with juice), and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, stirring, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 5 minutes.
4. Transfer mixture to a blender and purée 30 seconds (use caution when blending hot liquids).
5. Pour glaze through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof bowl, pressing on and discarding solids.
6. Drizzle glaze over cooked sweet potatoes and gently toss until coated.
7. Just before serving, bake glazed sweet potatoes in lower third of oven until hot, 3 to 5 minutes.
8. Sweet potatoes can be roasted 2 hours ahead. Toss with glaze and reheat just before serving.