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List of sweet potato dishes facts for kids

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Japchae is often made with clear noodles from sweet potato starch.

Sweet potatoes are yummy, sweet-tasting root vegetables. They are full of starch, which gives you energy! Sometimes, even the young leaves and shoots of the sweet potato plant are eaten as greens.

Even though they have "potato" in their name, sweet potatoes are actually quite different from regular potatoes. They are only distant relatives. Also, some people in North America call darker sweet potatoes "yams," but sweet potatoes are not true yams. True yams are a different type of plant altogether!

Delicious Sweet Potato Dishes

Sweet potatoes are used in many different ways around the world. People enjoy them in snacks, desserts, and even main meals!

Popular Sweet Potato Snacks

  • Camote cue – This is a popular snack from the Philippines. It's made from sweet potato pieces that are fried and coated in caramelized brown sugar. It's a sweet and crunchy treat!
  • Fried sweet potato – Just like regular potatoes, sweet potatoes can be fried! A very popular way to enjoy them is as sweet potato fries. They are often served as a side dish.
  • Hoshi-imo – This is a popular snack in Japan. It's made by steaming sweet potatoes, then peeling and slicing them. After that, they are dried. It's a chewy and naturally sweet snack.
  • Roasted sweet potato – In many parts of East Asia, roasted sweet potatoes are a popular street food, especially when it's cold outside. They are often cooked until soft and sweet, perfect for a warm snack.

Sweet Potato Desserts

Soetpatats
Soetpatats is a sweet potato side dish from South Africa.
Sweet potato salad
This is a type of Sweet potato salad.
  • Camote halaya – This is a sweet dessert from the Philippines. It's like a jam or pudding made from mashed sweet potatoes. Sometimes it's called "sweet potato jam" or "camote delight."
  • Dulce de batata – This is a traditional sweet jelly dessert from countries like Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. It's made from sweet potatoes and has a firm texture, a bit like a marmalade. In Brazil, it's known as marrom glacê.
  • Purple sweet potato haupia pie – This is a special Hawaiian dessert. It mixes purple sweet potatoes with a coconut milk dessert called haupia. It's similar to the sweet potato pies found in the Southern United States. It often uses Okinawan sweet potatoes, which are naturally purple!
  • Sweet potato pie – This is a classic dessert from the Southern United States. It's especially popular during holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's often served instead of pumpkin pie.
  • Sweet potato soup – In Southern China and Hong Kong, this is a sweet dessert soup. It's a warm and comforting dish, often enjoyed after a meal.
  • Taro ball – This is a traditional Taiwanese dessert. It's made from taro (another root vegetable) and sweet potato flour. These chewy balls are often served in sweet soups or with shaved ice.

Main Dishes and Sides

  • Japchae – This is a tasty Korean dish made with stir-fried clear noodles and vegetables. The noodles, called dangmyeon, are special because they are made from sweet potato starch! The dish also includes different vegetables, meat, mushrooms, and is seasoned with soy sauce and sesame oil.
  • Potato pancake – While most potato pancakes are made with regular potatoes, some recipes use sweet potatoes instead. This gives them a sweeter flavor and a different color.
  • Soetpatats – This is a traditional dish from South Africa, especially popular with Afrikaans people. It's usually served as a side dish at barbecues, called braais. It's often baked in a special pot called a Dutch oven and made with sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
  • Sweet potato salad – This is a type of salad from Arab cuisine. It's made with sweet potato, onion, mashed garlic, raisins, olive oil, and various spices. It's a flavorful and unique salad.

Beverages

  • Shōchū – This is a Japanese drink. It can be made from many different ingredients, including sweet potatoes! Other common ingredients are rice, barley, or buckwheat.

See also

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