This Week’s Veg: Sweet Potatoes
Each week, we will feature one seasonal fruit or vegetable and tell you everything about it: how it is, where it comes from, where it is cultivated, what its nutritional value is, and how to store and enjoy it. We will also give you some recipe ideas and would be very happy to hear about your own recipes around this ingredient.
This week will be about Sweet Potatoes.
Description
Species: Ipomoea batatas
Shape: long, large and tapered tuberous root, with a smooth skin.
Colour: between red, purple and brown. Its flesh ranges from white through yellow, orange and purple.
Texture: creamy when cooked
Availability: peak season is from October to March.
History
Sweet potatoes are native to the tropical parts of South America and were domesticated at least 5000 years ago. They spread very early throughout the region and have been brought to the Western world by the first settlers.
Cultivation & Production
Sweet potatoes are now cultivated throughout tropical and warm temperate regions wherever there is sufficient water to support their growth.
According to the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) statistics, world production in 2004 was 127 millions tons. China is the largest producer, providing about 80% of the world’s supply. Historically, most of China’s sweet potatoes were grown for human consumption, but now most (60%) are grown to feed livestock.
The plant does not tolerate frost. It grows best at an average temperature of 24°C, abundant sunshine and warm nights. Depending on the cultivar and conditions, tuberous roots mature in two to nine months.
Nutritional value & Health benefits
Sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiver, beta carotene, vitamin C and vitamin B6.
How to select & store
Try to choose small to medium-sized sweet potatoes with unblemished skins, as they will be more tender when cooked.
Store in a cool, dark place and use within a week of purchase.
How to enjoy
The roots are most frequently boiled, fried, or baked.
- Candied sweet potatoes are a side dish consisting mainly of sweet potatoes prepared with brown sugar, marshmallows, maple syrup or other sweet ingredients. This dish is often served on Thanksgiving and represents traditional America cooking.
- Sweet potato pie is a also a traditional favourite dish in southern American cuisine.
- In Dominican Republic, baked sweet potatoes are enjoyed for breakfast whereas in China they are sold as street food during winter.
- Sweet potato leaves are a common side dish in Taiwan, often boiled with garlic and vegetable oil and dashed with salt before serving.
Recipe ideas
- Sweet potato pancakes
- Cottage pie with sweet potatoes
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Sweet potato & vanilla cake
- Sweet potato pie
- Sweet potato & ginger mash
- Sweet potato wedges
- Spiced sweet potato salad
- Sweet potato soup with coconut
- Shepherd’s pie with sweet potato mash
Source: Wikipedia
(c) photo by vanillevaness via Flickr
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well I would have one recipe from poland (my grand mother is polish) to give you but I do not know how to do it!
the funny thing is that i did it last week after years without doing it and now the potatoe week is starting so if there is any way to contribute to it let me know! I even have pictures.
You can send me the recipe and your photos by email and I’ll post it if you like (saying that it’s your recipe of course ;)). Readers’ recipes and suggestions are always more than welcome!
My email address: nathalie.derain@gmail.com.
When the web application Serial Cooking is live, you’ll be able to upload and share your own recipes. For now, because only the blog is live, we cannot do it yet, but it’s coming soon!