7 Sweet Potato Recipes: How to Make Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are sweet-tasting root vegetables with short and thick roots known as tubers. Sweet potatoes are not related to the more common white potato or to yams, for which they are often confused. Sweet potatoes have thin skin that ranges from reddish-brown to deep purple and orange, white, or purple flesh, and a sweet flavor, while yams have rough, brown skin, pale flesh, and a neutral, starchy flavor. Though related, regular potatoes and sweet potatoes look and taste a lot different. The nutritional profile of sweet potatoes includes calcium, carbohydrates, potassium, vitamin A, and vitamin C.

Sweet potatoes taste great with a wide array of other popular ingredients, including:

1. 1. Black beans: Add sour cream to black beans to make sweet potato tacos. The sugary taste of the root veggies counterbalances the spicy, tangy elements of Mexican cuisine.
2. 2. Brown sugar: Try heightening the natural sweetness of these vegetables with a little sugar. Brown sugar especially pairs well with candied or caramelized sweet potatoes.
3. 3. Brussels sprouts: Use Brussels sprouts as an additional side dish alongside mashed sweet potatoes and pair them with the main course of your choosing.
4. 4. Butternut squash: Add the carved-up remnants of a butternut squash to your next sweet potato casserole since both have a similar look and taste.
5. 5. Cranberry sauce: For Thanksgiving dinner, try serving your sweet potato sides with cranberry sauce. You can even douse the sauce on the spuds themselves.
6. 6. Maple syrup: Drizzle this classic accompaniment on sweet potato pancakes. Go easy at first, as sweet potato pancakes are already much sweeter than buttermilk pancakes.
7. 7. Spices: As with normal potatoes, feel free to use a variety of warm spices to garnish and flavor your sweet potatoes. Start with simple ingredients like black pepper and sea salt and continue experimenting with different sweet potato recipes.

Here are seven sweet potato dishes you can try making at home:

1. 1. Candied sweet potatoes: It might take you more than an hour of total time to make these candied sweet potatoes, but they’re a sweet-and-spicy treat that will last as long as you store them well in the refrigerator in aluminum foil or plastic. Try this classic candied sweet potatoes recipe.
2. 2. Japanese sweet potatoes: With just five minutes of prep time, you’ll be well on your way to making this Japanese twist on roasted sweet potatoes. Give this roasted Japanese sweet potato recipe a try.
3. 3. Roasted sweet potatoes: Break out your baking sheet pan and preheat your oven for this simple Thanksgiving side dish. Learning how to make a simple roast sweet potatoes dish can open the door to many other different recipes that use them as a base.
4. 4. Sweet potato bisque: This sweet potato side is a silky, easy recipe if you want to enjoy your sweet potatoes in a soup bowl. Use this sweet potato bisque recipe as your next appetizer.
5. 5. Za’atar sweet potato fries: You can make these crispy treats without a deep fryer or an air fryer. Throw some kosher salt in with the other spices to get the most of all the flavors. Easy to reheat and with a half an hour cook time, this Za’atar sweet potato fries recipe can make for a tasty, simple side dish.
6. 6. Sweet potato gnocchi: Like regular potato gnocchi, this sweet potato alternative serves as a gluten-free pasta substitute so long as you use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour. Heat these dumplings on your stovetop to make sweet potato gnocchi with brown butter and top them with olive oil and the sauce of your choice.
7. 7. Sweet potato pie: This comfort food is a common dessert at the end of Thanksgiving dinner. Try out this baked traditional sweet potato pie recipe if you want to expand beyond pumpkin pie and pecan pie.

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