Sweet potatoes, often labeled as yams in the US, are native to South America and come in a variety of colors and sweetness levels. The darker varieties are sweeter and packed with nutrients, making them a healthy addition to any diet. They are used in a variety of dishes and are a primary ingredient in many Asian cuisines.
Sweet potatoes are tubers, distantly related to potatoes, and are native to South America. They are often confusing to consumers as many are labeled yam in the United States. In fact, true sweet potatoes, first grown in Africa, are much larger, starkier, and much less sweet. Sweet potatoes, on the other hand, can be very sweet, but the sweetness depends on the variety.
In the United States we commonly see some sweet potatoes marked as such because they have tan skin and yellow flesh when cooked. These are actually the least sweet of the species. They have a mild, creamy flavor and make an excellent change from regular oven potatoes like russets.
When we look for sweet potatoes for recipes like sweet potato pie, we normally look for dark brown, reddish or even slightly purple outer skin. The inside of these potatoes is often a deep orange and is very sweet. They need a little extra sugar and make a fantastic treat simply baked and topped with a little nutmeg and a pat of butter.
Alternatively, some like to use these darker sweet potatoes, often marketed as garnet or sweet potatoes, to make sweet potato casseroles, mashed sweet potatoes, or to make delicious French fries or sweet potato chips. Japanese vegetarian tempura often batter and fry sweet potatoes and they can be a delicious contrast to the tempura sauce they are dipped in.
Sweet potatoes pack a nutritional punch that you can’t miss. Additionally, the garnet or jewel variety is excellent for dieters who want to satisfy their sweet tooth needs in a healthy way. A medium sweet potato, if not soaked in butter, has a modest 117 calories. It includes 3.4 grams of dietary fiber, 28 milligrams of vitamin C, 25.7 milligrams of folate and 396 milligrams of potassium. As an orange-fleshed root vegetable, these potatoes are also full of vitamin A, which contains more than 200 percent of the US Recommended Daily Allowance for the vitamin. Vitamin A in plant-based forms and not derived from fish or liver oils is safe enough to eat in this amount.
These potatoes are often associated with fall, because in the United States, this is when they are typically harvested. A plethora of comfort food recipes incorporate the sweet potato. However, most sweet potatoes today are not grown in the United States, but rather in China. While it might be unusual to associate the sweet potato with Asian foods other than tempura, it’s actually a primary ingredient in many Asian dishes.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
