Fried sweet potato facts for kids

A cheeseburger and sweet potato fries

Kananga phodi-tawa, an Indian cuisine dish made with battered and fried sweet potato

Fried sweet potatoes are a yummy food found in many dishes and cultures. The most popular type is probably sweet potato fries. These are like regular French fries, but they use sweet potato instead of potato.

In Guinean cuisine, fried sweet potatoes are called patates. They are even more popular than potato fries there!

Delicious Fried Sweet Potatoes

What Are Sweet Potato Fries?

Sweet potato fries are long, thin pieces of sweet potato. They are usually deep-fried until they are crispy and golden. They can be a side dish with burgers or a snack on their own. Many people enjoy them as a healthier or tastier alternative to regular fries.

A Bit of History

People in the United States have been making fried sweet potatoes for a long time. Recipes for them go back to the 1800s! Some old recipes suggest boiling the sweet potatoes a little first. Others say to fry them with sugar for a sweet taste.

Sweet Potatoes Around the World

Fried sweet potatoes are enjoyed in many places.

• In Korean cuisine, there's a dish called Goguma twigim. It's a tasty fried sweet potato snack.
• In Indian cuisine, you can find Kananga phodi-tawa. This dish uses sweet potato that is lightly covered in batter and then fried.

• 

  Goguma twigim, a fried sweet potato dish in Korean cuisine

• 

  Crinkle cut sweet potato fries as a side

• 

  Goguma-stick (sweet potato fries) sold as street food in Seoul

How Do They Compare? (Nutrition)

When you compare sweet potato fries to regular potato fries, they are quite similar in some ways. They have about the same amount of calories, carbs, and fat before cooking.

However, there are some cool differences:

• Sweet potato fries have more fiber. Fiber helps your body digest food.
• They also have more calcium, which is good for your bones.
• Sweet potatoes are packed with Vitamin A. This vitamin helps your eyesight and immune system.
• Potato fries, on the other hand, have more iron, potassium, and Vitamin C.

If both types of fries are deep-fried, they will have similar amounts of fat. But if sweet potato fries are baked instead, they will have much less fat.