"Yams are starchy tubers that have an almost black bark-like skin and white, purple or reddish flesh and come in many varieties. "Most of the so-called yams you see in American grocery stores are actually orange-fleshed sweet potatoes," explains Mary-Frances Heck, author of new cookbook Sweet Potatoes (and former BA staffer). Purple sweet potatoes are root vegetables. Yams (often mislabeled as sweet potatoes in the grocery store) are a starchy, dry vegetable that originated in Africa and Asia. The neutrally-flavored yams are often used in Caribbean or West African cooking, and are difficult to find in the U.S.; sometimes you can pick them up at specialty grocery stores. Dioscorea eburnea Lour. Pronounced "ooh-bae," ube is a purple spud related to the orange sweet potatoes you probably already eat on the reg. As it melts into your potato, all your problems may melt away too. October 10, 2018. There are over 400 varieties of sweet potato around the world, including: The Korean purple sweet potato, which features a chestnut flavor when boiled. Make your favorite takeout recipes at home with our cookbook! Sweet potato, purple skin white flesh, peeled, cut into pieces, boiled for 8 min. Japanese sweet potatoes bear a slight resemblance to Purple Stokes. 2010. It is also made into a powder, which is then used in Filipino desserts that are unmistakable with their bright purple color. Okinawan sweet potatoes on the other hand are available year round. The skin can be white, yellow, red, purple or brown, and the flesh can be white, yellow, orange or purple. Preparation is a time-consuming process involving several minutes of pounding and boiling to remove toxins. How To Cook Purple Sweet Potato: Recipe & Nutrition Benefits It is noted that the first purple sweet potato was bred by the Japanese and grown specifically on Okinawa, hence its name. Yams are more easily compared to the texture and flavor of white russet potatoes (with more fiber and complex carbs) and are best boiled and served alongside hearty braised meats. All the varieties described below are technically sweet potatoes, though they’re often called yams. However, they are not coming from the same family and quite different from one to another. Its Japanese name is beni-imo. In addition, sweet potatoes have abundant amount of fiber. Purple sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas Lam) are a direct relative of the well-known orange sweet potato and come from the same family. However, the purple-fleshed Okinawan sweet potato is named after the Japanese island ‘Okinawa’, where it … You may also find another sweet potato that has a purplish color on the outside. Sweet potatoes come in many different colors. Purple sweet potatoes are low in calories at just around 50 calories per potato. https://www.westoftheloop.com/2016/05/08/grilled-purple-sweet-potatoes Purple sweet potato is a popular ingredient in Lau Lau. The sweet potato is a popular ingredient in many classic, cool-weather recipes. The purple potato made its way to Hawaii and then to the U.S. mainland. Their long shelf life of 6 months allows them to be a dependable food source during times of poor farming--the yam is a much more difficult crop to harvest than the sweet potato. The presence of a minimum of 3-5 grams of fat in the meal enables us to absorb more beta-carotene from sweet potatoes. We had Heck break down the differences for us. Depending on where you live, it might be easier to find Stokes Purple at the markets. Yes, you have been eating potatoes all your life and know how versatile this tuber can be in making various recipes. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Purple Sweet Potato in Lau Lau Purple sweet potato is a popular ingredient in lau lau, a savory Hawaiian dish made of pork, butterfish, and vegetables (including cubes of purple sweet potato) wrapped in lu’au leaves and ti leaves. Purple sweet potatoes (sometimes mistakenly called purple yams) are fun to cook with and can be used in many of the same ways as the more familiar orange or white sweet potatoes. Both the purple and orange guys are also very low in fat, helping to keep you slim and trim. Sometimes referred to as the Ube sweet potato, this tuberous root is actually a type of purple yam. Eating purple sweet potatoes is also extremely good for you. Purple sweet potatoes have a rich, almost winey flavor with a creamy texture. Photographs copyright © 2017 by Kristin Teig. However, in most cases, ube desserts are made with either grated frozen roots, powder, flavor extract, or jam (ube halaya), which are all available in Filipino or Asian markets. The two are commonly confused and mislabeled at the market, so most people in the U.S. have never eaten an actual yam (native to Africa). Sweet potatoes that have brown, red-orange, or white skin with orange or white flesh are native to Colombia and southern Central America. They can be used in many of the same ways you’d use an orange or white potato, and the colorful result puts a fun spin on mashed potatoes, fries, and soups. ; The Okinawa sweet potato, a Japanese varietal with a vibrant violet flesh. Molokai sweet potatoes are available in late spring and early summer, but you'll be hard pressed to … After Columbus' discoveries, they were brought to Asia, and varieties with white skin and speckled pale purple flesh were developed on the Japanese island of Okinawa. It is sometimes confused with taro and the Okinawa sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cv. They have little to no fat, 1.3 grams of fiber, 1.4 grams of protein, and only 12 grams of carbs. One of Heck's favorite ways to eat them is topped with sambal butter . They have a taste very similar to the more common orange sweet potatoes but are generally believed to have more potent antioxidant properties. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. First, let’s back up. Incidentally, yams and sweet potatoes are different. Purple sweet potatoes are healthy. One is the Okinawan sweet potato, which is called beni imo in Japan; it's also known as the Hawaiian sweet potato or uala. It is well loved all over Asia as a dessert ingredient for its sweet and nutty flavor. Okinawan Purple Sweet Potato – has a whitish skin and purple flesh. It's all a facade! You will need to bake them anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours at 350 F to make them pleasingly moist. Purple sweet potato skins are edible, though some recipes recommend peeling them first. Storage. ; The Creamsicle sweet potato, whose pale white outer skin hides a sweet, sugary orange interior. In the Philippines, there is a relative of ube called tuge. Purple sweet potatoes can supply vitamin C needed by the body because in the sweet potatoes can meet up to 66% of our daily vitamin C requirement. health benefits of Purple Sweet Potatoes. Although potatoes have a reputation of causing weight gain, studies show that the type of potato you choose and how the potato is prepared could make a difference.. Try butter-roasted sweet potatoes; sweet potato salad; twice-baked sweet potatoes or simply dice … Yam. She notes there will be "subtle differences in flavor, sweetness, and moisture" between Beauregard (brown skin, more deeply sweet, grown in Louisiana), Garnet (red skin, more like pumpkin flavor), and Jewel (coppery-orange skin, mildly sweet and earthy, California-grown). They will keep up to a month when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. They may not be available in every grocery store, depending on where you live. However, with a wide variety of both yams and sweet potatoes in existence, there is considerable overlap when it comes to flavor and texture.Sweet potatoes, especially orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, are almost always sweeter than yams, but both vegetables are versatile and can have their f… These sweet potatoes are easy to prepare and cook. For longer storage, keep them in a dry, dark, and cool place with good ventilation and use within a few weeks. sambal oelek with a stick of butter. ; The Creamsicle sweet potato, whose pale white outer skin hides a sweet, sugary orange interior. Try butter-roasted sweet potatoes; sweet potato salad; twice-baked sweet potatoes or simply dice … Smoothing and clear blood circulation. These are the sweet potatoes that you roast for meal prep, use for Thanksgiving sweet potato pie or marshmallow-topped mashed potatoes, and snack on as fries and chips. Next time you are at the market buying sweet potatoes, look around and see if you spot something a little different. health benefits of Purple Sweet Potatoes. And what the heck are purple and white potatoes? Yes, you have been eating potatoes all your life and know how versatile this tuber can be in making various recipes. These ones are served with ricotta and scallions. There are purple varieties of both vegetables. Purple yams have greyish-brown skins and purple flesh, and their texture becomes soft like a potato when cooked. I love sweet potatoes and yams and they’ve been a staple in my diet for more than 20 years. In parts of the United States where yams are not popular, most major supermarkets don't carry them--to find yams you'd have to go to specialty markets selling C… The New Good Life. Okinawan sweet potatoes enjoy a year-round season while the Stokes Purple variety is typically available from September through June. Dioscorea javanica Queva Dioscorea purpurea Roxb. I love sweet potatoes and yams and they’ve been a staple in my diet for more than 20 years. Mashed Purple Sweet Potatoes. The color comes from anthocyanins, the same pigment that gives cherries, strawberries, purple carrots, and other vegetables their color. © 2020 Condé Nast. The texture is more toothsome than mushy when roasted, but if you braise them low and slow, they end up being silky yet still hold their shape. Purple sweet potato benefits are plentiful, making this variation to the normal sweet potato worth seeking out. Types of Purple Sweet Potato. A staple in African cuisine, yams are most often boiled, roasted or fried. Today, they are widely grown in Hawaii and exported to the United States mainland where they are popular with Asian and Latinx communities. Incidentally, yams and sweet potatoes are different. Dioscorea rubella Roxb. Sweet potato is native to the tropical regions of America. The biggest difference between the two varieties is that the Stokes version has a light lavender skin and bright lavender flesh, while the Okinawan has a creamy-white skin with deep purple flesh. Golden-Skinned, Pale-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes. Demystifying different types of purple sweet potatoes, one tuber at a time! Purple sweet potatoes are some of the most interesting and colorful vegetables you can cook. Purple sweet potatoes are wonderful boiled, steamed, or baked alongside regular sweet potatoes. The Okinawan purple yam has the scientific name Ipomoea batatas cv. Ube yams ( Dioscorea alata ) shouldn’t be confused with sweet potatoes because they are from the family Dioscoreaceae . Avoid any with soft or brown spots, sprouts, or wrinkled skin. The Okinawan purple yam has the scientific name Ipomoea batatas cv. Some are lower or higher—there are too many of them to generalize. Adding a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (3.5 g fat) to mashed sweet potatoes (4 servings) can significantly improve the nutritional value of the dish. It tends to have a drier texture and is less sweet than dark-skinned sweet potatoes. We steam the lau lau and eat it with rice and poi. Purple sweet potatoes tend to be denser than other types, but turn rich, starchy and nutty when cooked (some even say wine-like). Unlike the sweetpotato, yams must be cooked to be safely eaten. The purple yam is the Filipino ube or ubi, and it is very rare to find it in the United States. Okinawan sweet potatoes on the other hand are available year round. They have little to no fat, 1.3 grams of fiber, 1.4 grams of protein, and only 12 grams of carbs. 97 ($2.42/Ounce) Updated March 30, 2020 There is no doubt that purple sweet potatoes have gained popularity—just open the pages of Eating Well, Martha Stewart Living, The Washington Post and O, The Oprah Magazine. To revisit this article, select My⁠ ⁠Account, then View saved stories. The reason for the name mix-up, she explains, is because Louisiana sweet potato growers marketed their orange-fleshed as “yams” to distinguish from other states' produce in the 1930s—and it stuck. Where these two differ for the most part is in their phytonutrient profile. Restaurant recommendations you trust. Roast, fry or sauté them to make sure they keep their purple … You can stir it into a savory stew to feed a hungry crowd on game day, bake into a family-favorite casserole for a holiday meal, or simply roast a potato and eat it plain. Sometimes life puts you at a crossroads: Do you buy yams or sweet potatoes? Do take note that Japanese sweet potatoes are different from the Okinawan sweet potatoes, which have striking purple flesh, although both are considered staple diets of Okinawa. The purple sweet potato goes by a few names, and there are two common varieties. Both. The skin of a yam (left) looks kind of like tree bark, while a sweet potato (right) is more reddish-brown. Purple potatoes are vibrant, versatile and nutritious, making them a must-have for any seasoned spud-lover. Avoid bruising these potatoes as the slightest damage can cause the entire sweet potato to go bad. Types of Sweet Potatoes. Color and Shape. Updated November 26, 2019. Today, they are widely grown in Hawaii and exported to the United States mainland where they are popular with Asian and Latin… Speaking of yams, most people always mistaken them with sweet potatoes and taro especially the purple yams which the flesh texture is very similar to purple sweet potatoes. Popular in some Asian and Latin cuisines, they add a brilliant pop of color to food and require just a few adaptations to cook. How to cook purple sweet potato: His advice for cooking it: “The key is to bake it for longer than regular sweet potatoes, and at moderate heat, about 90 … Dioscorea globosa Roxb. In fact, potatoes are so commonly consumed in average households in all parts of the world that it has become the 4th … Okinawan sweet potatoes, sometimes called Japanese purple potatoes, or Japanese sweet potatoes, are a unique variety of sweet potato which is actually native to the Americas, not Japan, let alone Okinawa. When cooking, purple sweet potatoes will take longer than regular sweet potatoes. Sweet potato is native to the tropical regions of America. The other is Stokes Purple, a name patented by a North Carolina farmer around 2006. Which plays a role in the circulation of blood in the body is a … White sweet potatoes may look like russets, but they're loaded with some of the same fiber and vitamins that orange sweet potatoes have—though not as much beta-carotene. ; The Okinawa sweet potato, a Japanese varietal with a vibrant violet flesh. To prevent the color from bleeding out when cooking, Heck suggests roasting, sautéeing, or frying purple sweet potatoes. Stokes Purple are less sweet than other sweet potatoes. Generally a little harder to find than other types of sweet potatoes, purple sweet potatoes can be prepared in a number of different ways. For non-pasta applications, Heck says they go really well with bright, acidic sauces like chimichurri. Heck argues that sweet potatoes should be your new vegetarian meat replacement because they "can carry spices in a way that other vegetables can't." Most yams have a drier, potato-like starchiness than most sweet potatoes, which tend to have a rich flavor and, in some cases, creamy texture. Okinawan Purple Sweet Potato – has a whitish skin and purple flesh. Purple yams are found in Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines and are often used in desserts. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. This delicious dish is flexible and serves 4. Hawaiian sweet potato, which is a variety called ‘Okinawan’, but is commonly called purple yam, Japanese purple potato or Japanese Sweet Potato. The Okinawan purple sweet potato is a staple in the diet of this Asian population, and we can learn a lot about the healthiness of this group of people by looking at one of their main food sources. 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