The same quantity is also potassium-rich: 816 milligrams, to be precise. We’ll clear up typical misconceptions about this tasty food. There are thousands of varieties of Ipomoea batatas. Unlike most other sweet potatoes, this Japanese variety has drier flesh. Let soak in water for 10 minutes. With distinct purple-ish or reddish color skin, inside the sweet potatoes are creamy white flesh that turns yellow after cooking. As we covered earlier, almost every vegetable sold as sweet potato is a breed of Ipomoea batatas. Japanese sweet potatoes are called Satsumaimo (さつまいも, サツマイモ). Please read my disclosure policy for details. Learn more about the Purple Stokes, Garnet, Hannah, and Jewel sweet potatoes below: Purple Stokes are named after their distinctive purple exteriors. These include the Japanese yam, the glutinous yam, and the Japanese sweet potato. It is absolutely my favorite! They come in small to medium in size and are generally rounder with tapered ends. Japanese Sweet Potatoes. The Japanese sweet potato is a red- or purple-skinned, yellow-white fleshed potato that belongs to the Ipomea batata botanical family. My top 5 sweet potato … Skin and slice up your Japanese sweet potatoes. Its concentrated sweetness makes them an ideal ingredient for making desserts. One hundred grams worth of this purple veggie adds up to 118 calories. Serve and tuck in. Sweet potato soup, served during winter, consists of boiling sweet potato in water with rock sugar and ginger. TASTE – Very sweet and fairly firm inside. They’re also full of antioxidants and contain an enzyme that has the ability to lower blood pressure. In Japan, you can get them roasted over coals for 100 yen (about $1) at many convenience stores, or if you live in the suburbs or near a park, a sweet potato man ( yaki-imo man ) drives around a truck with a bed full of hot stones and stone-roasted sweet potatoes, much like the ice cream trucks here. That’s more than the typical white potato (only about 18 grams). Japanese sweet potatoes are purple on the outside and light yellow inside. We want to show you just how easy it is to grow sweet potatoes in your backyard and go over some of the wonderful benefits this vegetable has to offer. Your email address will not be published. Vietnam, China, Japan, India and Indonesia are the biggest producers of Japanese sweet potatoes. Before you ask, no, this is by no means a traditional Japanese recipe. Prick your Japanese sweet potatoes liberally with a fork. Spread your homemade fries on a sheet pan lined with a baking sheet. Japanese sweet potatoes bear a slight resemblance to Purple Stokes. Yams of any sort tend to contain more potassium and less sodium—but less bone-building calcium too. Kyoto-Style, Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Miso, Ginger and Scallions - a delicious vegan side dish that is easy to make and full of amazing flavor! They’re also dissimilar when it comes to vitamins and minerals. Read onwards to get the facts on this delectable source of nourishment. Sweet potatoes are roots originating from the Convolvulaceae or Juss family. They are also filling and packed with nutrients. There are five widespread types we use in our kitchens. According to Herbal Extracts Plus, the Japanese sweet potato is similar to American yams, but tastes sweeter. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy Japanese sweet potatoes: Buy our best-selling e-cookbook for 33 more easy and simple recipes! However, Japanese yams have a stouter, rounded shape as opposed to an elongated one. Despite the attention-grabbing name, Jewel sweet potatoes are somewhat bland. As a member of the Dioscorea family, D. japonica is officially a yam. The purple color contains polyphenol which has antioxidant effect, used for cooking, sweets such as cake and ice cream, cosmetic, and other various uses.I have started Japanese Sweet Potatoes in seven half-whiskey barrel containers. This post may contain affiliate links. The sweet and wonderful aroma fills the air. Cook in boiling water until tender. Vietnam, China, Japan, India and Indonesia are the biggest producers of Japanese sweet potatoes. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. From roasting, steaming, simmering, deep-frying to baking, there is an endless way to enjoy Japanese sweet potatoes. With distinct purple-ish or reddish color skin, inside the sweet potatoes are creamy white flesh that turns yellow after cooking. The Japanese sweet potato diet is one of those diets that are so easy that you can do it by following 1 simple rule. Joel is also an ultra runner and endurance athlete - and in 2017, he became the the youngest person to run an ultra marathon on every continent in the world to build 7 schools with Pencils of Promise in developing countries.Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Athlinks and read his full bio here. 1 lb 2 oz (500 g) Satsuma Imo, Japanese sweet potatoes 2 oz (60 g) sugar 3 Tbsp butter, room temperature 1 tsp rum 1 egg yolk 1 tsp Mirin black sesame seeds; Instructions. The Japanese title cited above, さつま芋マッシュ transliterates to satsuma-imo (Japanese sweet potato) masshu (from the English word mashed), and honours my use of Japanese ingredients and flavourings to give a classic dish of mashed starches with dairy fats a memorable umami twist. Most notably, they’re higher in carbohydrates. Ethnic/Cultural Info That doesn’t mean that they aren’t nutritious, but you may need to adopt a moderate approach on certain diets. One of the most interesting varieties of sweet potatoes from Asia is the Murasaki sweet potato from Japan. This is somewhat ironic, considering that they’re officially yams. Japanese sweet potatoes are also a good source of some minerals (especially magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium) and low in sodium [1, 6].. Phytonutrients. Japanese sweet potatoes have a much drier, starchier inside, meaning methods such as “nuking” in the microwave or roasting in oven will give you a globby, sticky consistency (been there, done that.) You have to try it! With a sweet and rich flavor, it’s beloved fall produce in Japan. Which is why they are particularly enjoyed by farmers and hard labor workers in Japan. Add more herbs and spices to the mix if you want. According to the USDA, Japanese sweet potatoes contain 11,062mcg of the beta-carotene form of vitamin A, for 202.2 … But the Satsuma-imo skin is darker purple. Living in alignment with the truth of impermanence opens a secret passageway to joy. A yam is any one of many edible tubers produced by plants within this classification. ultra marathon on every continent in the world to build 7 schools with Pencils of Promise in developing countries. Aside from taste, a food’s most important feature is how nutritious it is. Note that these values may not apply equally to all cultivars (types) of sweet potato. Learn more about the amazingly versatile Japanese sweet potato, its health benefits and how to cook with it today! Bake for 30 minutes total, flipping them over at the 15-minute mark. This is identified by its elongated shape, deep purple skin, and soft white flesh. Use of this website is subject to mandatory arbitration and other terms and conditions, select. Look at the edge of a sweet potato and get the one syrup comes out. SKIN – Purple and fairly smooth. I'm Nami, a Japanese home cook based in San Francisco. And the flesh is pale yellow when raw and turns golden yellow as it gets cooked. Look out for them at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, farmers markets, or local co-ops when they are in season. Each size of sweet potatoes … Joel Runyon is the founder of Ultimate Paleo Guide and CEO of Ultimate Meal Plans - making delicious keto, paleo, banting, low carb and aip diets simple. On the outside, it may look similar to the garnet sweet potato (also known as red yam). Japanese sweet potatoes bear a slight resemblance to Purple Stokes. Murasaki Japanese Sweet Potato. Both types have characteristic purple skins. They will keep up to two weeks when stored in a cool, dark, and dry place. Learn the facts behind its origins, nutritional value, and what other varieties of this vegetable exist. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. The vast majority of traditional sweet potatoes are elongated, and some can grow quite large. Japanese sweet potatoes don’t disappoint in either respect. He's a precision nutrition, and Gym Jones Level 1 certified, and helped millions of people get healthy and lose weight since 2012. They can come in all colors and shapes—from red and purple to orange and brown. I usually buy the sweet potatoes from my local Japanese grocery store, but you can certainly find them available at major grocery stores in the US these days. They are also a great source of vitamins (especially vitamin A), minerals, potassium, iron, and copper. They have a nutty flavor that tastes somewhat like a roasted chestnut. The flavor of these edible tubers are particular in that they’re extraordinarily sweet. However, Japanese yams have a stouter, rounded shape as opposed to an elongated one. Japanese purple sweet potatoes are commonly dried and turned into powder for use as a natural food coloring. Both types have characteristic purple skins. Add your oil of choice or spices as needed. The flesh is burnt orange in color, with matching coppery outer skin. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Remove from the oven and split the skins. The same goes for Japanese sweet potatoes. Season with your salt, pepper, and your preferred oil. We’ve stuck with two of the simplest, most popular methods of enjoying it. You’re probably aware that all sweet potatoes are good for you. Traditional sweet potatoes have an average of roughly 20 grams of carbohydrates per 100 grams. This exotic vegetable originally hails from China and Japan. Since you should aim to consume no more than 50 grams of carbohydrates per day, it isn’t an ideal snack. Get ready to relish the sweet, savory taste of this colorful yam. There was an error submitting your subscription. Used in both savory and sweet dishes, Japanese sweet potato or Satsumaimo has a distinctive purple-ish skin. Buy our best-selling e-cookbook full of 33 easy and simple Japanese recipes! The Ultimate Guide To Intermittent Fasting, Turkey Sausage Patties with Lemon Spinach. Unfortunately, some supermarkets still incorrectly call Japanese sweet potatoes “yams” – … Japanese sweet potato or has Latin language as Satsui Maimo is a type of sweet potato that has a short planting period about 4 until 6 months which is faster than the benefits of local sweet potatoes with planting period from 6 until 8 months. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. There are plenty of ways to dine on Japanese sweet potato—it’s as versatile as it is colorful. Choose the branded sweet potato than non-brand. All you have to do to make this diet work is switch your staple food to Japanese sweet potatoes for one meal a day. Sweet potatoes are a good source of many beneficial phytonutrients. White potatoes are tubers from the nightshade family. FLESH – Whitish flesh that turns golden when baked. Japanese sweet potatoes are yams, and wholly unrelated to the species or the morning glory family from which it hails. Garnets are exceptionally sweet to the taste and stay moist when cooked—similar to squash. In Japan, a dish similar to the Korean preparation is called yaki-imo (roasted sweet potato), which typically uses either the yellow-fleshed "Japanese sweet potato" or the purple-fleshed "Okinawan sweet potato", which is known as beni-imo. To many Japanese, they are nostalgic food that reminds us of home and the change of season. To begin with, defining a traditional sweet potato isn’t a straightforward as you may think. The white inner flesh remains firm even after being cooked. Check your email to download the free resources. It is a unique colored sweet potato that is reddish purple inside, and the most consumed potato in Okinawa. The Bad, The Better & The Best Options, The Beginner’s Guide To The Autoimmune Protocol. In Japan, sweet potatoes are the signature flavor of fall. Have fun exploring the 700+ classic & modern Japanese recipes I share with step-by-step photos and How-To YouTube videos. You can always check if a food is paleo or not using the Paleo Diet Food List app. Scientifically speaking, it’s neither a typical white potato nor a sweet potato. Design by, Steamed Vegetables with Miso Sesame Sauce, Kuri Kinton (Candied Chestnuts with Sweet Potatoes), Matcha Marble Pound Cake 抹茶マーブルパウンドケーキ. According to Herbal Extracts Plus, the Japanese sweet potato is similar to American yams, but tastes sweeter. Minerals. Some are lower or higher—there are too many of them to generalize. The Japanese sweet potato is a red- or purple-skinned, yellow-white fleshed potato that belongs to the Ipomea batata botanical family. all started one afternoon when my friend mentioned the Japanese Sweet Potato in passing Instead of regular sweet potatoes, I love using Japanese sweet potatoes as a filling for my holiday pies. How is Japanese sweet potato different? The average yam has a comparatively higher 27 grams worth of carbs for the same quantity. Eat Around Japanese Sweet Potatoes. You may have tried them as tempura, where they are lightly coated with the crispy airy panko shells and deep-fried into perfection. Buy the sweet potato in the best time of year, November to January. Preheat oven to 400F (200C). Generally more round (“fatter”) than the Stokes purple variety, which are more elongated. Keto dieters may want to steer clear of this yummy but carbohydrate-rich yam. That portion will also give you a small dose of essential vitamins A, B12, and K. An added bonus is that these yams are wholly fat-free. This article is all about the Japanese sweet potato. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. They can also be used to make sweets, confectionaries, noodles, or added into soups, stews or curries. Japanese candied sweet potato (daigaku imo) recipe : SBS Food The texture is drier, firmer, and starchier. Of course, all sweet potatoes are incredibly healthy, but the clearest difference between a Japanese sweet potato and a standard sweet potato is the color. John Brehm Happy first of March! Eat one meal around 150 grams of baked Japanese sweet potato per day. Learn what differentiates it from so-called traditional sweet potatoes; and how it can fit into your diet. They share a comparable consistency with white potatoes too: starchy and dense. Still, there are three ways in which the Japanese sweet potato differs from its traditional counterparts. Japanese Sweet Potatoes vs. Orange Sweet Potatoes. Another popular dish is Daigaku Imo, where they are diced into cubes, deep-fried till crispy, glazed in a sweet sugary syrup, and finished with a sprinkle of black sesame seeds. Please try again. Cut sweet potato into 1/2" (1.2 mm) thick rounds. Since D. japonica isn’t refined or processed, you’re welcome to indulge yourself. A Paleo way of life means replicating the diets of our long-distant Paleolithic ancestors. Either roast it or bake it and chow down: Whether you baked it, roast it, pair it with meat or eggs, the Japanese sweet potato is filled with nutrients and a great way to add some starchy carbs to your plate. Japanese sweet potatoes have a much sweeter taste than ordinary sweet potato varieties found in the US. Dioscorea japonica goes under several common names. Space them out on a baking sheet (preferably parchment-lined). The possibilities are infinite. Japanese sweet potatoes are purple on the outside and yellow inside. They will keep up to a month when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. NUTRITION – Data from Whole Foods. The vast majority of traditional sweet potatoes are elongated, and some can grow quite large. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. As yams, they don’t have the same nutritional value as I. batatas. Embrace the unique flavour of sweet potato in dessert form with this easy recipe for Japanese double baked sweet potato.