Asian-style baked onions, potatoes & sweet potatoes

Method

• step 1

  Preheat the oven to 220C/Gas 7/fan oven 200C. Combine all the spices and salt in a small, electric spice or coffee grinder (or use a pestle and mortar), and pulverise them to a powder – ignore the bigger bits of coriander husk. Tip the ground spices into a very large mixing bowl.

• step 2

  Cut the onions into sixths, leaving a little root attached to hold the layers together. Cut the ordinary potatoes into six segments, lengthways. If the sweet potatoes are slender (they normally are) cut them into quarters, lengthways; if they’re bulky round the middle, cut them into sixths. Put all the vegetables into the mixing bowl, add the oil and toss thoroughly, using clean hands

• step 3

  Lightly oil the large tray which comes with your oven (or 1 or 2 baking trays), spread the vegetables out in a single layer and bake them for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the glaze ingredients in a small jug with 4 tablespoons cold water. Remove the oven tray, brush the vegetables with the glaze and continue to bake for about 20-30 minutes, or until they’re slightly charred and tender. A little squeeze of lime or lemon juice adds vivacity, but the vegetables are very nice with or without it.