This is a root with character! If it is well know in Asia and in some parts of the US, it is not really the case in Europe. In France, it is sometimes even difficult to find some. I must confess right now that I am partial to this vegetable. It reminds me of my childhood, the few times we got back to my mother’s native island (a former French colony near Madagascar and Mauritius). We would eat what they call “gateau patate” (potato gateau).
Today, it is the veggie of choice for sweet and sour meals, and it’s uses are as multiple as those of the common potato: mash, crisps, steamed, even in pies, cakes…
For the more curious, the sweet potato is the root of Ipomoea batatas, and is also called a yam in the US, even though it is not a yam. The species actually originates in tropical parts of America, but is largely cultivated in Asia.
My personal experience tells me that there are two types of sweet potatoes. Some are orange and some yellow. From the varieties we get in France, it is mostly the South African ones that are orange. If it is very nice to see in a mash for instance, it is less appealing in a gateau, where I like the yellow ones better. If you don’t know what to do with your sweet potatoes, just boiled them and mash them. You can then freeze them and use it later, in a cake or a pie for instance, or just as a mash, and then you can stir a little spices and coconut milk in it… Yummy!
And if you like jazzy music and sweet potatoes, check out the song Sweet Potato by Australian artist Sia here
