Discussion Board

I can't find real sweet potato like Okinawan one. I think what we get locally is Yam, they call it sweet potato as the name is interchangeably used. Whenever I find real sweet potato, I boil them and I like the taste. When I do the same with yams, i.e. boil it, they taste like carrots. Has anyone experienced this? Have you found a way around it? Do you bake or boil your yams or sweet potatoes to get them to taste better. Please share your recipe. Short steps will be helpful.

Whether I bake or boil my yams depends on the texture I am looking for. If I want chunks, then I boil or steam. When i bake them, they become much softer and more like mashed potato. And while I'm not sure I would describe the boiled ones as tasting like carrots, I do agree that baking seems to bring out the sweetness more.

I like simple and microwave all taters and squashes too. Since I've been dong this so long I can judge cook time visually (usually a sweet potato in about 3-4 mins)

Cheers

I prefer to bake or microwave; I find boiling them dilutes the flavor. I've never felt they tasted like carrots, just more a watered down flavor.

I poke holes with a fork and bake in a 400 degree F oven or on the BBQ for 40 to 60 minutes depending on the size and dryness. I bake them on parchment paper as sometimes the sugars will leak out and burn.

I poke holes with a fork and microwave 5-10 minutes - checking on it every 2-3 minutes.

Or I may start it in the microwave for half the cooking and finish in the oven or BBQ - for about 20 minutes.

I like them steamed in my rice cooker best.

I do something similar in my slow cooker. I put maybe an inch of water in the bottom of my slow cooker. Then I put one of those folding metal steamers in it and lay some sweet potatoes on top. Cover and place on low for about 12 hours (basically from the time I get up to the time I get home from work). Best sweet potatoes I ever ate. Skin slips right off.

Kate

I agree that boiling dilutes the taste so I bake mine. Once at a Home Show I watched a demonstration for waterless cookware. One of the things they cooked was a cubed yam/sweet potato. It came out so good, just like baking. I didn't buy the cookware though (it only came in a set) - much, much, much too expensive! I've wished I just buy one pot though just so I could make sweet potatoes that way.

I'm going to try the Katydid's way.

My favorite way is baked for 1 1/2 hours at 400. I eat the whole thing except the little hard end where the stem must have been. So delicious. I like to put them on the wire with foil on the wire below or parchment on the wire below to catch the juices.
Riva

I steam sweet potatoes. It takes about 10 minutes or so and they soften nicely.

When we moved house 5 months ago and got a microwave, I started microwaving my sweet potatoes instead of baking them and it works really well. They taste great and it saves so much time that I've been able to eat lots more sweet potatoes than I used to. The only sweet potatoes I can get at the moment are huge, so I cook one on a plate for about 5 minutes then stick a knife in it and if it's not done put it back in for another 2-3 minutes until it is.

What do you all pay for sweet potatoes around the country? I have been paying between $2.49 and $2.99 per pound for organic. They can be HUGE and sometimes come to $4 per.

Riva

I steam mine alot - together with other veggies. I then save the steaming water as stock for other dishes. They make the stock a bit sweeter which is lovely.

I find that I can eat raw sweet potatoes rather that boiled or baked. Is it okay to eat 1-2 sweet potatoes raw? I bought some tiny and tender sweet potatoes not the regular size.

One of my favorite slaw recipes is to combine a grated raw sweet potato, a grated apple and a grated carrot. Sprinkle with cinnamon and raisins (if not on MWL). Delicious.
Kate