How to Cook Sweet Potatoes to Taste Better in 2022?
How to cook sweet potatoes to produce the most delicious sweet potatoes that you’ve had in your entire life. The information you are about to receive about how to cook sweet potatoes will have your sweet potatoes roasted with a nice crisp, a nice caramelized exterior and a deliciously soft inside. The mix of flavors adds an ideal flavor to these sweet potatoes without overpowering their sweetness or flavor.
How To Make The Right Selection When Picking A Sweet Potato
Although sweet potatoes are readily available throughout the year, their peak season runs between the fall and the beginning of winter. When coming up with a plan on how to cook sweet potatoes, there are a few points to consider when selecting the best sweet potatoes to purchase.
Choose the orange or the red-skinned potato. These are called the “moist types” and are generally more sweet, creamy, and less starchy.
Do not be confused by yams. Yams and sweet potatoes are not the same! Sometimes, the orange and red-skinned potatoes are referred to as yams. However, yams are much more dry and starchy.
Check for smooth skins and the absence of any soft areas. Check the skins closely and ensure there aren’t any discolorations, and the potato is smooth and firm.
How To Cut A Sweet Potato For Roasting
Peel the sweet potato to get the best taste and texture; suggest first peeling the sweet potato.
Remove the end and then a length-wide strip removing a small length-wide strip along the side of the potato will allow you to place the sweet potato securely on the cutting board. So when you are making any other cuts, there’s no need to be concerned of the potatoes rolling, or sliding around, which can increase your chance of you cutting yourself.
Cut in circles Try and cut your sweet potatoes in rounds of equal size.
Slice in chunks Cut every sweet potato “round” into smaller pieces equal to 1/2 inch. Cut them in half length-wide. For the potatoes that are larger, make 2-3 cuts in width. For smaller potatoes, cut them in half, and then in half again.
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes
1: Buy good sweet potatoes.
When coming up with the best strategy of how to cook sweet potatoes, the first objective is to find sweet potatoes that feel hefty in proportion to their size, have uniform skin and are without soft chunks. I try to purchase sweet potatoes, which are well-rounded and are even in shape which is helpful when attempting to slice them into uniform pieces. Place the sweet potato in an air-tight, dry and dark location (like an open cupboard or pantry and not in the fridge). They will last for about a week.
Any sweet potato variety can be used in this recipe. If the sweet potatoes appear more vibrant on the inside, they will most definitely have more antioxidants! I prefer orange-fleshed (or sometimes purple-fleshed) sweet potatoes instead of white. It is important to note there is a difference in the United States, “yams” are usually sweet potatoes with a different term (here’s what a real yam appears as).
2: Either peel off the skin or scrub them to clean.
It’s entirely up to you. I tend to cut my sweet potatoes in the middle because of habit. However, you may keep the skin intact if you do not mind a little extra texture. If you choose to keep your skin intact, wash them thoroughly with running water and then make sure to dry them before cutting.
3: Cut them down into cubes that are even or similar in size
Start by cutting the sweet potatoes into 1-inch large round pieces. Then, cut each round in the amount needed to create approximately one-inch cube chunks. They might not be perfectly equal, but that’s okay.
4: Don’t crowd the pan too much.
Like any other vegetable, sweet potatoes require breathing space on the baking pan. Otherwise, the cubes will release too much steam and never get golden at the edges. It’s best to use two pans set on separate racks mid-way in the oven rather than cramming too much into one pan.
5: Bake at high temperature, rotating halfway.
The oven should be raised enough to produce a delightful gold edge. Not so high that olive oil gets burned that it is unpleasant and smells. I recommend baking at 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
6: Don’t stop until deeply caramelized.
When you cook your sweet potatoes for long enough, the sugars begin to brown in the oven. Those caramelized bits are the best! Do not be concerned if you notice some burnt spots; consider it an indication that the sweet potatoes have been cooked. Most likely, the sweet potatoes will taste delicious.
How long should you bake sweet potatoes?
It could take between 45 and 55 minutes, based on the oven’s condition and whether it’s heated before baking. I typically wait until the 45-minute mark before testing the oven using the fork. If your fork glides effortlessly through it, the food is ready.
After removing the dish from the oven, add some salt and pepper.
How to serve Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Roasted sweet potatoes are an excellent side dish to many other dishes. They’re an especially ideal choice for meals cooked on the stove. Put the sweet potatoes into the oven before you begin the rest of the dishes, and they’ll be ready around the time your main dish is ready.
When you go through the paring ideas below, you’ll notice that I am a sucker for incorporating sweet potato into Mexican (or even Thai) food items. They’re sweet enough that they can be paired with spicy foods, and I can’t find enough spicy foods to pare them with!
Serve sweet potatoes that have been roasted for a dish to serve are complimentary with these dishes:
- Arugula as well as Wild Rice Salad with Zippy Lemon Dressing
- Chilaquiles Rojos (or Chilaquiles Verdes
- Crispy Bean Tostadas or Favorite Breakfast Tacos
- Spiced Bean Soup Bean Soup
Sweet potatoes roasted can be a wonderful ingredient to add to your hearty salads containing whole grains, including wild rice, farro, and quinoa. Here’s proof:
- Sugar Potato, Arugula & Wild Rice Salad with Ginger Dressing
- Mediterranean Roasted Sweet Potato & Farro Salad
- Quinoa Salad topped with Roasted Sweet Potato, Kale & Pesto Vinaigrette
Do you have your own method of how to cook sweet potatoes? Let me know in the comments!
