Cooking with Purple Sweet Potatoes: Vibrant, Nutritious, and Delicious!
Purple sweet potatoes are not only visually stunning but also packed with antioxidants and nutrients. Their vibrant hue adds a pop of color to your plate, and their sweet flavor makes them a versatile ingredient. Let’s explore some Purple Sweet Potato Recipes that are creative and tasty ways to cook with these purple gems!
1. Roasted Purple Sweet Potato Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 large purple sweet potatoes
- 1/2 lemon (quartered and sliced)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon harissa (optional, for a spicy kick)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Cut the purple sweet potatoes into thin wedges.
- Toss the sweet potato wedges on a rimmed baking sheet with lemon slices, olive oil, harissa (if using), ground cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Roast in the oven, stirring once, until tender and lightly browned (about 30 minutes).
- Top with chopped parsley before serving.
2. Baked Purple Sweet Potato Recipe
Ingredients:
- Purple sweet potatoes
- Olive oil
- Salt
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Rub the sweet potatoes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Place the sweet potatoes directly on the oven rack or on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 60-90 minutes (depending on size) or until soft.
- Serve as a side dish or mash them for a colorful twist on classic mashed potatoes.
3. Purple Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients:
- Purple sweet potatoes
- Garlic powder
- Fresh herbs (such as rosemary or thyme)
- Sea salt
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Peel and cut the purple sweet potatoes into fry shapes.
- Toss the fries with olive oil, garlic powder, fresh herbs, and sea salt.
- Arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Bake until crispy and golden brown (about 25-30 minutes), flipping halfway through.
4. Purple Sweet Potato Mash
Ingredients:
- Purple sweet potatoes
- Ghee (clarified butter)
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
- Boil or steam the peeled and diced purple sweet potatoes until tender.
- Drain and mash them with ghee, salt, and pepper.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Serve as a colorful side dish or use it as a base for other recipes.
5. Purple Sweet Potato Pancakes
Ingredients:
- Purple sweet potatoes (cooked and mashed)
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Milk or plant-based milk
- Eggs (or flax eggs for a vegan version)
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Maple syrup (for serving)
Instructions:
- Mix the mashed purple sweet potatoes with flour, baking powder, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and cinnamon to create a pancake batter.
- Cook the pancakes on a griddle until golden brown.
- Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup.
6. Purple Sweet Potato Gnocchi
This Purple Sweet Potato Recipe Gnocchi is made with purple sweet potatoes is a delightful twist on the classic Italian dumplings. The natural sweetness of the potatoes pairs beautifully with savory sauces. Here’s how to make them:
Ingredients:
- 2 medium purple sweet potatoes (cooked and mashed)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the mashed purple sweet potatoes with the flour, salt, and pepper.
- Mix until a soft dough forms. Add more flour if needed to achieve the right consistency.
- Divide the dough into smaller portions and roll each portion into a long rope.
- Cut the ropes into bite-sized pieces.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Drop the gnocchi into the boiling water and cook until they float to the surface (about 2-3 minutes).
- Remove the gnocchi with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a pan with melted butter or olive oil.
- Sauté the gnocchi until lightly browned.
- Serve with your favorite sauce—marinara, pesto, or brown butter with sage.
7. Purple Sweet Potato Hummus
Add a colorful twist to your hummus by incorporating purple sweet potatoes. This vibrant dip is perfect for parties or as a healthy snack. Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked and mashed purple sweet potatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 2 cloves garlic
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- Salt and cumin to taste
- Olive oil for drizzling
Instructions:
- In a food processor, blend the chickpeas, mashed sweet potatoes, garlic, lemon juice, tahini, salt, and cumin until smooth.
- Adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Drizzle with olive oil before serving.
- Enjoy with pita bread, veggie sticks, or as a sandwich spread.
8. Purple Sweet Potato Curry
Warm up with a comforting purple sweet potato curry. The natural sweetness of the potatoes balances the spices beautifully. Here’s a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 large purple sweet potatoes (peeled and diced)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions:
- In a large pot, sauté the onion and garlic until fragrant.
- Add the diced sweet potatoes and curry powder. Stir to coat.
- Pour in the coconut milk and season with salt and pepper.
- Simmer until the sweet potatoes are tender (about 20-25 minutes).
- Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
- Serve over rice or with naan bread.