11 Recipes Featuring Japanese Sweet Potatoes, a Staple for Some of the Longest-Living People in the World (2024)

FAQs

What are Japanese sweet potatoes used for? ›

For example, they can be coated in batter and deep-fried to make tempura, steamed, sliced and dried in the sun to make hoshi-imo, or cut into long, thin French-fry strips, deep-fried and candied to make a sweet snack called imo-kenpi.

Introduction of Satsuma Imo (Sweet Potato) to Japan

This sweet potato is not native to Japan. Originally it came from Central South America. Then in 1605, it came to Ryukyu island (Modern day Okinawa ) from Philippines by way of the China. About 100 years later, in 1705, it started to spread widely in Kagoshima.

Japanese sweet potatoes have a concentrated yet natural sweetness that's earthier and nuttier than that of other sweet potatoes. They're also lighter and fluffier in texture, thanks to their starchiness and low moisture content.

Did you know that sweet potatoes were cultivated and consumed before the white (Irish) potato? The earliest cultivation records of the sweet potato date to 750 BCE in Peru, although archeological evidence shows cultivation of the sweet potato might have begun around 2500-1850 BCE.

Typically in Japan, we enjoy yaki imo as it is. It makes a hearty yet healthy snack, but you can still serve it as a side as a part of a meal. We eat the skin of Japanese sweet potatoes. That's why it's important to scrub and wash the sweet potatoes well before you bake them.

Sweet Potatoes and Health

Sweet potatoes with orange flesh are richest in beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes with purple flesh are richer in anthocyanins. Beta-carotene and anthocyanins are naturally occurring plant “phyto” chemicals that give vegetables their bright colors.

Are Japanese sweet potatoes healthier than regular sweet potatoes? All varieties of sweet potatoes are good for you but these purple-skin tubers do have higher concentrations of specific vitamins and nutrients.

"The greenish colour can be due to a natural occurrence, when the water soluble pigments in the cooked sweet potatoes are exposed to air," AVA said. "If the cooked sweet potatoes are handled and stored properly, they should not pose a food safety concern."

Why are ube and Okinawan sweet potatoes both so purple? Their purple coloring actually comes from anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants which help to guard against cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Prepare the Potatoes: Begin by peeling and cubing the Japanese sweet potatoes. Uniform cubes ensure even cooking. Boil or Steam: Cook the sweet potato cubes by either boiling them in a pot of water or steaming them until they are fork-tender. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes.

Is it OK to eat Japanese sweet potato everyday? ›

Yes, you can eat Japanese sweet potatoes every day. They are a rich source of essential nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants, which makes them one of the best vegetables to eat daily. However, as with any food, they should be consumed as part of a balanced diet to ensure nutritional diversity.

Roasted Japanese Sweet Potatoes: A Classic Delight

A simple drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, and some time in the oven result in a comforting dish that's both rustic and refined. The caramelized edges and creamy insides make for an irresistible combination that's perfect as a side or a standalone snack.

Native Americans were already growing sweet potatoes when Columbus arrived on America's shores in 1492. The sweet potato is not a potato, not even a distant cousin. Potatoes are tubers; sweet potatoes are roots. Sweet potatoes have been growing in the South since as early as 1648.

Sweet potatoes are planted in the spring and harvested in the fall. Sweet potatoes are great sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, beta carotene, fiber and potassium. Sweet potatoes can be white, yellow, red, purple or orange. The orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are sweeter than the other varieties.

Sweet potatoes in fact, are considered a superfood. They are an excellent source of many key nutrients such as fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, potassium and manganese. Additionally, they contain antioxidants and are naturally low in sodium.

They can handle any of the toppings I'd typically put out for a baked-potato bar, including ground chicken (for them), black beans (for me), plus the dairy trifecta of butter, cheese and sour cream, and maybe some salsa and pumpkin seeds.

However, Japanese sweet potatoes are higher in vitamins C and E, while regular sweet potatoes have higher levels of vitamin A.

The inner white flesh has a nutty, earthy taste with a very subtle sweetness—they're like the best possible combination of a russet potato and a yam.

What do Murasaki sweet potatoes taste like? Like other sweet potatoes, this variety has the same sugary taste that is synonymous with the vegetable, but the sweetness in a Murasaki sweet potato is much stronger than some other varieties out there.