How to Make Purple Sweet Potatoes
Purple sweet potatoes have been all the buzz recently because of their incredible health benefits, but many don't know the best way to cook them to actually maintain that nutrient-boost. This recipe post includes everything you need to know to make these delicious vibrant potatoes easily at home AND the research-backed methods for cooking. I also include tips of how to serve them, store properly, and even make them kid friendly (my baby loves them!)
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 4 small purple sweet potatoes or 2 large (~1.5 lb)
- avocado oil or another high heat oil*
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Boiling
- Boiling purple sweet potatoes maintains their nutritional and antioxidant power much more than roasting, based on studies. It's also MUCH quicker. However, roasting purple sweet potatoes tastes a bit better (more caramelized), in my opinion. Choose whichever method you prefer. Wash and scrub your purple sweet potatoes to remove dirt.Chop off the ends and then into 1-2 inch cubes or coins. I personally love them in the coin shape specifically when using smaller sweet potatoes.
- Add your potato cubes or coins to a large pot and fill with cold water until they are covered by 1 inch of water. Add a generous amount of salt (at least 1 tsp).
- Bring the water to a boil. Once it is at a full boil, turn it down to a simmer. You want to visibly see bubbles! No need to cover the pot.For smaller cubes (1-2 inches): 8-10 minutesFor coins (2-3 inches in diameter): 10-12 minutes
- Check your purple sweet potatoes by piercing with a fork.
- Drain the water. Drizzle with avocado or olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Roasting
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Wash your purple sweet potatoes to remove dirt. Dry. Poke with a fork in a few spots. Using a brush or spray oil, coat the purple sweet potato with a little oil (I prefer avocado oil because it has a higher smoke point). Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Wrap in aluminum foil and bake on a baking sheet or directly on the rack.For smaller potatoes: 45-60 minutesFor larger potatoes: 60-120 minutes
- Your potato is done with it is fork tender. Let cool then slice lengthwise. Add butter or oil and sprinkle of salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Notes
Where to find purple sweet potatoes:
- Purple sweet potatoes may not be as readily available as their orange counterpart. They were not carried 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 are 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.