Listen, I get the hype over potatoes, I really do. They make our french fries, you can turn them into hash browns, if you married a potato they would treat you right: these are all fundamental factors we can agree on.
But, what if there was a better potato? A potato that could be all of these things: delicious, versatile and a potential lovetato (lover-potato)? What if it was tasty and nutritious? What if this was a potato that could be eaten for dinner and dessert? OR could be combined with many, many other meals for an additional boost of vitamins and flavor and works with any cuisine?
The answer, my friends, is the sweet potato. Maybe you’ve tried them before and didn’t like them; perhaps their subtle sweetness and squash-like texture failed to pull you into the wonderful world of this colorful, starchy boy.
Maybe so, but I implore you to give this blessed tuber another shot, for the following information might just win you over.
1. Sweet potatoes are spectacularly healthy!
Granted, while regular potatoes have some beneficial nutrients like vitamin B6, a necessity for cell reformation and contain kukoamines which lower blood pressure, the sweet potato has almost all of these on top of an inordinate amount of vitamin A — twice the amount found in carrots!
Vitamin A’s not just for better vision; it’s something that keeps our immune system in check and ensures cell regulation. Along with vitamin A, sweet potatoes boast a good dose of vitamin C that boosts our immune system further and ensures a better nervous system and psychological function.
If you’re lacking iron in your diet, a sweet potato can be combined with iron-rich foods like lentils, soybeans, and spinach to allow your body to absorb this nutrient far better, because iron absorption is enhanced with vitamin C! An awesome recipe for this is this amazing sweet potato spinach curry.
Oh, and speaking of recipes...
2. Sweet potatoes work with, and as, just about anything!
Making sweet potato fries or wedges will be a tad healthier than regular potatoes (though don’t expect much nutrition from deep-frying, like… anything), but you can do way better than that. A curried sweet potato soup is an awesome appetizer, but you can make it even healthier by adding carrots to up those antioxidants.
Baked potatoes work, of course, but why not a baked sweet potato? Get some extra nutrients from your dish like with this roasted chickpea stuffed potatoes recipe.
What’s cool is that all these recipes I’m showing you are entirely vegan, meaning your food’s gonna be tasty and cruelty-free. We’re not done yet, however, because us plant-eaters figured out how to incorporate sweet potato into mac & cheese, quesadillas, pizza and even burgers!
But perhaps savory food isn’t your thing. Don’t worry: the sweet potato’s got you covered.
3. Sweet potatoes can be a gosh dang dessert!
“Excuse me?” you ask, your face expressing that of confusion and frustration, but your eyes still glistening as you ache for more information. “A dessert, you say? B-But, potatoes are savory-”
“Shh,” I reply, pushing a sweet potato against your lips to silence you. “Let me explain.”
See, because of science, sweet potatoes have more sugar than a regular potato, but just the right amount to make it a very versatile food item; meaning it can be used in savory recipes and sweet ones.
A very simple recipe is simply baking the sweet potato, but instead of just using butter (or a dairy-free alternative) you combine it with sugar and cinnamon. What you get is a delightfully sweet and creamy dish that works alongside a meal or as a dessert.
But, if you want something a little sweeter, you can actually make sweet potatoes into a creamy, zesty pudding like this vegan sweet potato pudding. Want something a little more chocolaty? This super-quick to prepare 5 ingredient brownie makes a low-fat, plant-based alternative to store bought brownies with an additional kick of nutrition.
“Woah, Robert,” you utter, crossing your arms and offering me a look of disdain. “What if I wanted a chocolate pudding instead?”
“How about you try this vegan Mexican chocolate sweet potato pudding instead?”
“O-Oh,” you reply, starting to sweat; your punishment for underestimating our orange friend. “My mistake.”
"It's OK," I say, reassuringly; wiping away your tears with the potato. "It's OK."
Maybe this article hasn’t convinced you to start incorporating sweet potatoes into your diet. Perhaps its unique taste and texture just aren't for you, and that makes sense: it doesn’t work for everyone. Perhaps I scared you away when I metaphorically rubbed your face with a harvested ingredient.
Either way, I’ve seen the converters before: I’ve convinced people to give the sweet potato another try as a dessert, and they actually ended up enjoying it. For those still on the fence about sweet potatoes, those that wish to up their nutritional intake, or simply those wanting to try something different, the sweet potato might just be your new friend.
I sure know it's mine, *kisses the potato*.