Sweet Potatoes- a healthier choice
The sweet potato is a root vegetable which is starchy and sweet-tasting. We can eat sweet potatoes whole or peeled. In fact, the leaves of its plant are edible too. It may be called ‘potatoes‘, but sweet potatoes and white potatoes are actually not related. Both of them belong to a different botanical family. Talking about the health benefits of Sweet potatoes- They are a rich source of fibre as well as containing and an array of vitamins, minerals including iron, calcium. They are also a good source of vitamins B vitamin C. Other important nutritional benefits of sweet potato are that they are high in beta-carotene- an antioxidant. This antioxidant converts to vitamin A once it is consumed.
We can also add some olive oil over it, just before serving. This increases the absorption of beneficial beta-carotene in our body. This is a quick tip to increase the health benefits of Sweet Potatoes.
How to cook Sweet potatoes to make it a Healthier
When we cook sweet potatoes, its enzymes start breaking down their starch into a sugar known as maltose. Maltose is not as sweet as our regular sugar, but it’s enough to satisfy our sweet tooth.
DO YOU KNOW: You can also control the sweetness of sweet potatoes (to some extent) with a little change in your cooking method?
Cooking sweet potatoes too quickly (like steaming or roasting smaller pieces) may reduce their ultimate sweetness. While on the other hand, if we cook sweet potatoes slowly or on low heat. It will allow the maltose-making enzyme some more time to convert its starch into sugar, which will give you sweeter sweet potatoes.
How to store and Use SWEET POTATOES IN THE KITCHEN
- Do NOT refrigerate raw sweet potatoes, you may only store the cooked ones. Refrigerating prior to cooking hardens the core of this root vegetable and create sunken spots. This creates an off-taste in them and the vegetable spoils much faster than at room temperature.
- Always store sweet potatoes in a cool dry place. They can keep fresh for weeks just like white potatoes.
- Do not wash and store sweet potatoes until you plan to use them. The moisture promotes spoilage in them.
- Sweet potatoes do taste best when baked. They can be poked with a fork or knife and baked. They take a little longer to get cook- from half an hour to an hour, until they leave their skin a little when you squeeze them.
Delhi wali Aaloo Chaat with a healthy Twist
Baked Sweet Potatoes chips
Quick Recipe: Slice roasted Sweet potatoes and bake them in your oven, till crisp and brown. Drizzle a little olive oil and spices as per your choice. I prefer a little black pepper and salt. They make great fasting recipe too and satisfy your evening munching or a tea time snack.
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Do share in your comments if you like the post or have an interesting fact, memories or recipes to share anything about the health benefits eating Sweet Potatoes or your choices?
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i liked sweet potatoes, but never knew about all these hidden benefits and goodness in them
Sweet potatoes are tasty and full of health benefits. I would surely try this way of making them
I love cooking and having sweet potatoes. They are one of my favourite to have for good health.
sweet potatoes are actually really rich with nutrients. I give it to my son in forms of soup. He enjoys it.
Being a Bengali, I used to have my fair share of potatoes in everything. However, for the last 1 year I have swapped it with sweet potatoes and along with my health and weight my skin has also started showing much better results.
Baked sweet potatoes chips is a new recipe for me. I never tried these chips. I love eating baked and boiled sweet potatoes. Chips are new for me. Thanks for sharing.
Loved your post and found a lot of useful information here buddy. Will now include sweet potatoes in our data
I will try your recipe baked sweet potato and I never baked them
They are my fave dea i will surely try out your quick recipe. This looks so tasty!
We love sweet potatoes too.Sweet or savoury they are absolutely delicious.
Oh I didn’t know we don’t have refrigerate sweet potatoes thanks for the information.
The only way I knew to eat sweet potatoes was to boil them with a pinch of salt and eat. Will definately try this method to eat.
I always kept my sweet potatoes in the refrigerator. Learnt something new from your post. We use them often and my kids love it’s cutlets
I love baked sweet potato chips too. Alternatively I also pan fry them with very little ghee and let them turn brown. They taste great with a pinch of amchur powder on top.
Sweet potatoes are really nice and healthy and we are eating it from childhood I still remember having winter nights and roasted sweet potatoes with salt.
Off late i tried the baked sweet potatoes only, they were super yummy and out of the world too.
I have tasted sweet potato chips and fries and they taste better than potato ones. Sweet potato is very healthy indeed.
My mom used to make sweet potatoes veg …I never liked that time now I realise that it’s really healthy and we must have it!!
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While I love sweet potatoes, but am afraid we have never made any dish with them at home. Your post has inspired me to include this super food in our diet. Thanks for this informative post, Gunjan!
My pleasure Shilpa, thank you for dropping by 🙂
We love making a sweet potato/ shakarkandi chaat at home. These chips also seem like a delicious and healthy option!
A wonderful recipe! I use to love having sweet potatoes in childhood.
Wow, that’s great. We have it every Sunday 🙂 roasted Sweet potatoes make a great breakfast