Sweet potatoes have a range of nutritional benefits that are entirely different from white potatoes. In fact, the two foods don’t even come from the same botanical plant, with the sweet-tasting root vegetables belonging to the morning glory family.
Most commonly orange in appearance, you can also find purple or yellow sweet potatoes and each variety is packed with a number of healthy benefits when consumed. Unlike white potatoes, a medium sweet potato counts towards one of your five-a-day. Rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals, they support digestive and heart health and are low in fat.
Their bright-orange colour is thanks to the fact that sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene. When consumed, our body converts this to vitamin A, which can help boost our immune system and promote healthy skin and bones.
You can eat sweet potatoes with their skin on, and in fact most of the root vegetables nutrients are stored here. They can easily be prepared by simply baking them, but this requires some time, taking around an hour in the oven, meaning they’re not always the quickest option for meals.
But one chef has shared her trick for getting perfectly fluffy sweet potatoes in less than 15 minutes, meaning you can enjoy them in practically no time.
In a video posted to Instagram, Christina Soteriou revealed her method for cooking sweet potatoes, and said: “I’m a chef and cookbook author but the best cooking trick is one my mum taught me.”
Simply wet a kitchen towel and wrap this around a pierced sweet potato, making sure it’s covered. Instead of baking it in the oven, pop it into the microwave and set the time to 10 to 15 minutes, depending on how fluffy you prefer your potatoes.
The moisture stops the sweet potato from drying out and steam cooks it in a matter of minutes, saving you from having to wait for it to bake in the oven.
One user called @leilasveganlife said: “Saving immediately – life-changing hack!” while another called @rachelslittleplantkitchen responded with “game changer for purple sweet potato – they’re so dense and dry out easily”.
Purple-coloured foods contain colour pigments called anthocyanins, and studies have found that these foods can help prevent cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative conditions.
Once cooked, you can go ahead and add your favourite toppings, paired well with chickpeas, yoghurt, guacamole and even kidney beans.