 |
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
| |
| The Sweet Potato vs. The Yam |
|
by Jennifer A. Wickes Copyright 2001 It seems that most people get confused as to what is a sweet potato and what is a yam! In fact, in the United States, most people use both terminologies to refer to a sweet potato, when neither of these two vegetables is related! The sweet potato is found in tropical America and is a part of the Morning Glory family. The yam is a tuber (a bulb) of a tropical vine found in Central & South America, as well as the West Indies, Africa and Asia. Varieties There are mainly two varieties of sweet potato. The pale sweet potato has a very thin yellow skin with a bright yellow flesh. This variety is neither sweet nor moist, but more the texture of a white baking potato. The darker skinned sweet potato has a thicker orange skin with a sweet moist flesh.
dark brown. Season Both the sweet potato and the yam are available fresh from October through March. How to Select When trying to choose a sweet potato, choose a medium sized variety with smooth unbruised skin. You will want to choose an unblemished yam with unwrinkled skin. Storage Store your sweet potatoes in a dry, dark 55 degree F (12 – 13 degrees C) area for approximately a month. Otherwise, use your sweet potato within the week. Never place a sweet potato in the refrigerator. Store your yam in a cool, dark, dry place up to 2 weeks. Never place our yam in the refrigerator. Nutritional Qualities Sweet potatoes have high Vitamins A and C. Yams have higher sugar content. Wine Pairings Depending on what you are serving with your yams or sweet potatoes and as to how you are preparing it, try a Chardonnay, a Fume Blanc, a French Colombard or a Syrah. Spices Brown sugar, butter, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, ginger, lemon juice, lemon peel, mace, marjoram, nutmeg, orange juice, orange peel, poppy seed, sage, savory, thyme. Equivalencies 1 pound fresh = 3 medium = 3 ½ - 4 cups cooked and chopped Preparation A sweet potato can be prepared like a potato: baked, boiled, sautéed, steamed, microwaved, or fried. A yam can be prepared like a sweet potato! Recipes African Squash and Yams 6 Servings 1 onion, chopped 2 tablespoons oil 1 pound Hubbard squash, pared and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 yams, or sweet potatoes, pared & cut into 1" pieces 1 cup coconut milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves Cook and stir onion in oil in 10-inch skillet over medium heat until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes longer. Makes 6 to 8 servings Source: Public domain recipes converted from Meal Master format Orange-Glazed Sweet Potatoes 4 Servings 1-pound sweet potatoes 3/4 cup orange juice 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1/4-tablespoon wheat germ 1-tablespoon margarine 2 tablespoons grated orange peel 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg Heat oven to 350 degrees. Slice potatoes about 1/8 inch thick; spread evenly in an 8-inch square dish. Combine orange juice, brown sugar, wheat germ, margarine, orange peel, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cover dish with foil or lid. Bake 1 hour, until potatoes are tender. Source: Public domain recipes converted from Meal Master format Sweet Potato Pie 8 Servings 1/2 cup softened butter 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 1 cup Mashed, cooked sweet potatoes 3 lightly beaten eggs 1/3 cup corn syrup 1/3 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 pie shell, Unbaked Cream butter and brown sugar in bowl until light and fluffy. Blend in sweet potato and eggs. Add next 4 ingredients; mix well. Pour into pie shell. Bake in a 425-degree oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake 35 to 45 minutes longer or until well set. Source: Public domain recipes converted from Meal Master format This article was originally published at Suite 101. |
Related Articles: