The Sweet Potato You’re Not Eating (But Absolutely Should Be)
If you’ve only been reaching for orange sweet potatoes, it might be time to add their vibrant cousin to your cart. I’ve been slightly obsessed with making purple sweet potatoes as an easy dinner side lately — and I’ve even been serving them to my 8-month-old daughter to try. She’s a big fan too!
Live to 100 with Purple Sweet Potatoes
The Blue Zones documentary showcases communities where a higher percentage of people live to be 100 years old (known as centenarians). The Okinawan people are one such group, and they consume a remarkable amount of purple sweet potatoes — reportedly around 1 pound per day!
While we might not be able to get 1 lb a day, we can enjoy these potatoes multiple times a week and still get some incredible benefits.
What are the Benefits of Purple Sweet Potatoes?
Antioxidant Power
Purple sweet potatoes get their deep color from compounds called anthocyanins — the same powerful antioxidants found in blueberries and red cabbage. Antioxidants help protect your cells from oxidative stress, which is linked to aging, inflammation, and chronic disease. They appear to even have anti-cancer properties! Translation? That bold purple color isn’t just pretty — it’s doing something amazing for your body!
Good for the Gut
They’re also a fiber win. Purple sweet potatoes contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, which supports gut health, feeds beneficial bacteria, and helps keep blood sugar more stable compared to refined carbs. That makes them a satisfying, slow-digesting carbohydrate that won’t spike and crash your energy levels the way ultra-processed options can.
Other Nutrients
Another underrated perk: they’re rich in vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C supports immune function and collagen production (hello, skin health), while potassium plays a key role in blood pressure regulation and muscle function. So yes — they’re a carb, but they’re also delivering serious micronutrient value.
Don’t Skip the Skin
The skin of the purple sweet potato contains 10x the antioxidant power of the flesh, so make sure to leave it on when you cook them! (Just make sure to clean/scrub the potato before you cook it to remove dirt.)
What do purple sweet potatoes taste like?
Purple sweet potatoes have a slightly different flavor profile compared to regular sweet potatoes. They tend to be sweeter, have a nuttier flavor, and have a creamier texture when cooked.
How do you Eat Purple Sweet Potatoes?
Purple sweet potatoes can be used in various yummy ways! You can roast or steam them as a side dish, mash them for mashed purple potatoes, or incorporate them into soups and stews for added color and nutrition. They also make a vibrant addition to salads or can be used to create colorful desserts like pies and cakes!
If you want to maintain the most nutritional value, consider boiling them instead of roasting. Research shows this method preserves the most nutrients! However, roasting often tastes better because of the caramelization of the sugars. Consider using both methods in your cooking.
Check out my easy recipe for purple sweet potatoes, which includes both boiling and roasting options! You can even microwave them (which surprisingly preserves a lot of their nutrients).
Where can I buy Purple Sweet Potatoes?
Purple sweet potatoes may not be as readily available as their orange counterpart. They were not carried by my local grocery store, Pick N’ Save, but my larger grocery store, Woodman’s, did have them in stock.
The most common brand is called Stokes, which is grown Non-GMO in California. You can get them Organic as well. You can search on their website to find a store near you that carries. them.
Price
Purple sweet potatoes are more expensive than orange sweet potatoes. I found buying them in bulk (3 lb bag) was cheaper overall.
Final thoughts from Allie
Purple sweet potatoes have definitely earned a regular spot in my diet. I love the vibrant color (purple is my favorite color 😉). Honestly, I don’t notice a huge difference between them and orange sweet potatoes in terms of flavor—but they’re just as versatile and delicious.
I plan to keep buying a bag every few weeks so I can roast or boil a batch to have ready as an easy side for whatever I’m making — stir-fry, pasta, soup, you name it. Having them prepped and ready in the fridge makes weeknight meals so much simpler. You could even cook a big batch and freeze some for later.
Bottom line? Purple sweet potatoes feel like a major antioxidant upgrade that more people should consider adding to their routine. The only real downside is the slightly higher cost, but if it fits your budget, the added health benefits and vibrant color make them well worth it.
This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. We strongly recommend consulting your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen.
I have read about purple sweet potatoes, but unfortunstely i have never been able to find them anywhere. I live in a town of 100,000 people in Canada. I guess that’s why they’re they’re not available here. no demand. I’ll keep your recipes just in case.
Darn!! I hope they carry them in your grocery store at some point!