There are 101 ways to prepare white potatoes. However, the naturally sweet, sweet potato is just as versatile, perhaps even more so. Among the many recipes in books and magazines, mashed sweet potatoes show up time and time again. Each recipe has a variation, but just as tasty as any other recipe for sweet potatoes. I have discovered some curious features in my research. For instance, sweet potatoes are NOT yams. Yams are larger, more orange and, I believe, has a stronger taste. If you prefer baked potatoes try our recipe how long to bake a potato.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes – Healthy and Nutritious
While I cook, I keep in mind to preserve the nutrients in the potatoes. I wash them and leave the ends alone, unless they must be trimmed to avoid bad tasting mashed sweet potatoes. Since the nutrients are just under the skin, I disturb the skin as little as possible. I cook the sweet potatoes whole so the nutrients will remain in the potatoes. Over-cooking is quite detrimental to the quality of the potatoes, as water forms just under the skin and causes the potatoes to balloon up. Of course, when the potatoes are peeled, the water and nutrients rush out.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes – The Big Difference
The Difference in the Utilization of White potatoes and Sweet Potatoes is noteworthy:
White potatoes are usually best tasting with vegetables and non sweet condiments. For instance, salads, stews, soups, casseroles, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, etc.
Sweet potatoes are best when blended with fruits, brown sugar, and sweet enhancing spices, such as cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.
Three other vegetables can be substituted in recipes for sweet potatoes with almost no difference in taste:
- Carrots
- Pumpkin
- Winter Squash
These three vegetables can be prepared in the same way as sweet potatoes, and can be used in addition with sweet potatoes in many, if not most recipes. Sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, and winter squash all are powerhouses of nutrients, fiber, healthy oils, antioxidants, and are low in cholesterol.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes – Made to Please
Once the sweet potatoes are cooked and peeled, they can be prepared in dozens of ways. A few of the ways that mashed sweet potatoes can be made into a tasty dish is with the addition of chunky fruit, such as apples, pineapple, bananas, peaches, apricots, raisins etc. These may be raw or cooked. Meat, especially beef, can be added to sweet potatoes for a different type of dish to tempt the family or friends. Puddings may be folded or layered into mashed sweet potatoes for a lovely, buffet dessert. Whipped topping always dresses up a dish intended as a center piece. A little cinnamon, chocolate chips, or chopped nuts sprinkled on top — Yummy! Fit for royalty!
The glycemic index ranks sweet potatoes lower than white potatoes, and sweet potatoes are very nutritious and tolerated quite well by babies, diabetics (satisfies craving for sugar), and the elderly.
Sweet potatoes do not keep as long as white potatoes. They must be used within a week or less of purchase, lest they deteriorate.