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Japanese sweet potato is a pleasant-tasting vegetable. Its tubers are the overgrown lateral roots of the plant. For the first time, scientists discovered the product in America. The vegetable grew in the wild and was not cultivated for a long time.
Nowadays, you can cook a large number of dishes with sweet potatoes. Chefs still manage to come up with new recipes from it. Sweet potato is also known for its medicinal properties and rich chemical composition. It can have brown skin, pink, beige, and even purple.
What Are Japanese Sweet Potatoes?
Japanese sweet potato is a perennial tuberous plant. It can grow in temperate and warm climates, especially in China and Japan. In other countries, farmers plant sweet potatoes in greenhouses. Its fruits reach a length of 60 centimeters and a weight of 800 grams.
The Japanese cook a traditional vegetable dish – yaki imo (baked sweet potatoes) from it. They call the product “potato” only because of the similar shape. According to the composition and properties of vegetables, they have little in common.
What Does Japanese Sweet Potatoes Taste Like?
You can boil or bake Japanese sweet potatoes. It has a pleasant slimy and powdery taste with a slight sweetness. Confectioners use vegetable flavor to make sweets and desserts. You can also combine the product with many dishes and sauces.
The universal taste allows you to use sweet potatoes both as a side dish and an independent dish. Nutritionists see a special value in such a product because its unobtrusive sweetness helps to replace mashed potatoes from a regular vegetable with mashed sweet potatoes. This will add variety to your daily diet.
Benefits of Japanese sweet potatoes
Japanese sweet potatoes have a short ripening period from 4 to 6 months. It contains more fiber than other varieties of that vegetable.
Potatoes also contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium, and many other beneficial elements. They have a positive effect on the human body.
Japanese sweet potatoes VS Orange sweet potatoes
Orange sweet potatoes contain a large amount of glucose and beta-carotene. This causes a rich yellow or orange color of the pulp. Chefs often use this variety to prepare dessert dishes using brown sugar.
Some people compare the taste of dessert sweet potato with pineapple, carrot, banana, pumpkin, and even chestnut. Japanese sweet potatoes have more carrot or pumpkin flavor.
Most often, cooks bake it and serve as a side dish or an independent dish.
Why are Japanese sweet potatoes purple?
Purple products always evoke a lot of emotions. Japanese purple sweet potatoes contain dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, as well as minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. The pulp also contains anthocyanin, its natural nutrition benefits give the club a purple hue.
These substances favorably affect the work of the heart and other internal organs. In addition, a product of this color can surprise your guests and home if you prepare it for the table.
Are Japanese sweet potatoes as healthy as regular sweet potatoes?
Any kind of sweet potato is very useful for you and Japanese sweet potatoes are no exception in this list. It contains a large number of carbohydrates and dietary fiber and is an excellent source of energy.
Sweet potatoes also replenish the daily allowance of vitamins (especially vitamin A), minerals, potassium, iron, and copper. It contains all the essential amino acids that our body needs.
Make a choice based on your taste preferences and selected recipes. Japanese sweet potato is more versatile here – you can add it not only to side dishes but also to desserts.
Can you eat Japanese sweet potato skin?
You can eat the peel of sweet potatoes both raw and cooked. However, since sweet potatoes grow in the ground, wash the outer skin thoroughly before eating to remove excess dirt, pesticides, or debris.
However, cooks do not advise cutting off this part. The skin contains a large number of nutrients, such as fiber and potassium. Use it baked for the greater benefit to your body.
Are Korean and Japanese sweet potatoes the same?
All varieties of sweet potatoes are similar to each other and have similar tastes. Korean sweet potatoes differ from Japanese in the following:
- Has a taste more like chestnut. Less sweet. It is this kind of sweet potato that is steamed, not baked.
- Mulcoguma is the most popular Korean sweet potato. Locals sell it on the streets and bake it in ovens. But you can also cook it at home on a baking sheet.
The most significant difference is the color. Korean sweet potatoes have pink skin and orange flesh. Japanese vegetable has purple skin and white flesh, which turns yellow in cooked form.
Is sweet potato better than rice?
Sweet potatoes and rice are essential foods for people living in Asian countries. But which one is more beneficial? Both of these products are excellent sources of complex carbohydrates.
However, rice is almost 4 times more caloric than sweet potatoes. It contains more proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Sweet potato in its composition has more macronutrients: potassium, magnesium, calcium.
You can choose any of these products as a side dish. Combine sweet potatoes with a variety of ingredients. However, by its chemical composition, rice is more valuable. Alternate these products to get all the necessary nutrients and vitamins.
Is sweet potato good for weight loss?
The substances contained in Japanese sweet potatoes prevent the accumulation of fats and contribute to their breakdown during physical exertion. Starch in the composition of this product has a low glycemic index, which contributes to weight loss when used.
If you want to reduce your weight, sweet potatoes are a great way to do this. Prepare it in the right way, then it will bring maximum benefit to your body. You can use raw sweet potatoes for weight loss – just grate them and mix with other vegetables.
Baking Japanese sweet potato in the air fryer
You can buy Japanese sweet potatoes at a large grocery store like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. Many are afraid of this product and do not know what can be prepared from it. As an introduction, a recipe for sweet Japanese potatoes in a deep fryer can perfectly suit you.
This dish will surprise your guests. Ingredients:
- Japanese sweet potatoes- 2 large fruits
- avocado oil – 2 tablespoons
- black pepper and sea salt – to taste
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Turn on the fryer and let it heat up for 10 minutes
- Rinse the sweet potatoes well and dry them with paper towels.
- Cut it into strips according to your taste. The thicker they are, the longer your potatoes will cook. However, do not cut too thinly.
- Take oil, salt, pepper and grate your potatoes.
- Put the product in the deep fryer. Cook for about 10 minutes until golden brown.
- Take out the finished potatoes. Let the oil drain.
- Serve with your favorite sauces.
Steamed Japanese sweet potato recipe
Sweet potatoes are good in any form. If you are watching your diet and figure – cook this product for a couple. In this form, it will retain all its useful substances. Ingredients:
- sweet potatoes – 3 pieces
- olive oil – 3 tablespoons
- garlic – 2 cloves
- fresh rosemary – 2 tablespoons
- salt and black pepper – to taste
Preparation:
- Clean your product. You can throw away the skin, but you can also cook it.
- Cut the potatoes into identical pieces.
- Send the potatoes to your steamer. If you do not have special dishes, use a pot of water and a metal sieve.
- Cook for 15-20 minutes. The cooking time depends on the thickness of your slices.
- Potatoes are ready when they become soft.
- Mix the oil, garlic, fresh rosemary, salt, and pepper. Spread the resulting butter on your dish. Serve to the table.
You can eat steamed sweet potatoes without spices. Its taste is good without additions. Bon Appetit!
How to boil Japanese sweet potato
Boiled sweet potatoes are a great side dish for a family dinner. Boil it with the skin or pre-peel your product before cooking.
Use ready-made sweet potatoes as an independent dish or make something delicious and interesting out of it. Preparation of peeled sweet potatoes:
- Rinse your product well and peel it.
- Prepare the water. The pot should be large enough for your fruits to fit completely
- Put your potatoes in cold water. It should completely cover it.
- Place the pan on the stovetop. After boiling, cook for 10-15 minutes.
- To make mashed potatoes, cook for 25-30 minutes. Then the potatoes will become very soft.
- Drain the water. Cool to room temperature before use.
Potatoes in the peel need to be cooked a little longer. Check the readiness of the product with a knife.
How to cook Japanese sweet potato in the microwave
If you don’t have time to cook baked Japanese sweet potatoes in the oven, you can make this simple recipe. Your product will have a crispy crust and tender juicy flesh. Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Rinse your sweet potatoes. Remove excess moisture with paper towels.
- Pierce your product with a fork around the perimeter 6-8 times. Do this so that steam does not gather under the skin, and your potatoes do not explode.
- Wrap your product in wet paper towels, do not tear them. This will provide a steaming effect. Never use aluminum foil to cook dishes in the microwave.
- Place the wrapped potatoes on a plate. Put it in the microwave. The approximate cooking time is 8-12 minutes
- Check your product for readiness.
- Get rid of the paper towels and let your dish cool down for about 5 minutes.
- Cut it in half and serve it to the table!
You can eat it with sour cream, different spices, or any other filling. Look for the perfect taste of sweet potatoes for yourself.
Roasted Japanese sweet potato recipe
Make fried Japanese sweet potatoes in the oven. This is a very beneficial option for preserving the nutrients of the product. To repeat the recipe, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- sweet potatoes – as many as you want to cook
- salt and pepper – to taste
- butter – to taste
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Wash the sweet potatoes and dry them with paper towels.
- Prepare a baking sheet. For this recipe, a baking tray is best suited. Lay parchment paper on it.
- Pierce your root vegetable with a fork. Put it on a baking sheet.
- Put the baking sheet in the oven for 1 hour.
- Check the readiness with a knife.
- After cooking, cool the potatoes. Cut and brush with butter. Add salt and pepper.
Dessert of Japanese sweet potatoes recipe
Daigaku-imo is a traditional dessert of baked sweet potatoes, a part of Japanese snack cuisine. It is easy to prepare and tastes good. For it, you will need a little time and the following ingredients:
- sweet potatoes – 450 grams
- vegetable oil – 1 tablespoon
- sesame oil – 1 teaspoon
- honey – 2 tablespoons
- roasted sesame seeds – 1 tablespoon
Cooking technology:
- Rinse the potatoes well and cut them into large cubes.
- Add vegetable and sesame oil to the pan and preheat to medium high.
- Spread the potatoes evenly in one layer. Fry the pieces on each side until golden brown.
- Transfer the finished potatoes to a bowl. Add honey, sesame seeds, and mix well.
You can also cook potatoes for this dessert in a toaster oven. To do this, place the sweet potatoes on a wire rack and bake. Then your dessert will be less caloric.
However, roasted potatoes in combination with butter contain more saturated fat.
Conclusion
Japanese sweet potatoes have many beneficial substances. It can grow in almost any part of the world: both in the garden and in the greenhouse. The product is quite simple to prepare and can be either an independent dish or an addition to any other.
However, in the modern world, not all people have been able to appreciate its taste and health benefits. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things!