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

FAQs

What is Japanese sweet potato used for? ›

Japanese sweet potatoes can be swapped in for orange-fleshed sweet potatoes in just about any recipe or application, such as steaming, boiling, roasting, frying, mashing, and pureeing. They make excellent sweet potato fries and bake up well whole or incorporated into casseroles and gratins.

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, with their reddish-purple skin, are an alternative to the traditional sweet potato. Naturally low in fat and high in nutritional value, they are packed with health benefits. The sweet tuber is rich in antioxidants as well as heart-healthy minerals.

The Okinawan diet primarily consists of sweet potatoes and other highly antioxidant vegetables and fruits. Their diet may contribute to healthy longevity by protecting cells from damage, which otherwise leads to cellular aging, inflammation, and diseases.

Yes, Japanese sweet potatoes are considered one of the super vegetables due to their rich nutritional profile. They are full of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E, vitamin C, manganese, fiber, and several essential B vitamins.

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 are root vegetables that originate from Central America, and found their way over to Japan sometime around the 1600s. In Japanese, they came to be known as "satsuma-imo" because they spread to mainland Japan from the Satsuma region (now part of southern Kyushu) in the south of the country.

Sweet potatoes that develop dark spots may be infected with a fungal disease that may cover the entire skin surface. The injury is superficial, however, and does not affect eating quality. Prevent the problem by buying disease-free slips for planting.

"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."

How to tell if sweet potatoes have gone bad. If your sweet potato is soft in spots, smells rotten, or oozes a mysterious liquid, that potato should be discarded. Another sign that sweet potatoes have taken a turn for the worse is if they start growing stalky purplish sprouts.

Can you eat Japanese sweet potato raw? ›

While the dried sweet potato can be eaten raw, it can also be toasted to help bring out the nutty aroma and provide a sweeter and softer texture.

A: Japanese sweet potatoes are a nutritional powerhouse. They are rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making them a great addition to a healthy diet. They can also be enjoyed as a nutritious snack option.

Just one sweet potato gives you 102% of the vitamin A you need each day. This helps keep your eyes healthy as well as your immune system, your body's defense against germs. It's also good for your reproductive system and organs like your heart and kidneys.

Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene, and their excessive consumption can lead to hypervitaminosis A (vitamin A toxicity), in which excess vitamin A accumulates in the liver. Although it is not considered harmful, the color of the skin and nails may turn orange.

A balanced diet of survival food will ensure that your body is getting all the protein, carbs, minerals, and vitamins it requires to remain healthy. If you could only select five foods to survive on, potatoes, kale, trail mix, grains, and beans would get you pretty far.

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.

They're simultaneously drier and creamier than orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, which means that when you roast them at high heat (cubes, wedges, circles, or halves, simply coated with olive oil and salt and cooked between 425 and 450°), their edges get unbelievably crispy and burnished, belying the pudding-like centers.

While the dried sweet potato can be eaten raw, it can also be toasted to help bring out the nutty aroma and provide a sweeter and softer texture.

Sweet potatoes are often touted as being healthier than white potatoes, but in reality, both types can be highly nutritious. While regular and sweet potatoes are comparable in their calorie, protein, and carb content, white potatoes provide more potassium, whereas sweet potatoes are incredibly high in vitamin A.