Baked Okinawan Purple Sweet Potatoes
The vibrantly beautiful and nutritious Okinawan sweet potato is loaded with antioxidants, phytonutrients, and health-promoting fiber. It is touted as one of the reasons Okinawans are living active disease-free lives past the age of 100.
Servings: 4
Calories: 162kcal
Ingredients
- 4 large Okinawan sweet potatoes
Instructions
- Begin by washing the potatoes well.
- Then, wrap each one in parchment paper followed by a sheet of foil. I do this because there is some research linking aluminum to Alzheimer’s disease. Though the research isn’t conclusive, I like to err on the side of caution.
- After wrapping the potatoes, place them on a baking pan and place them in the oven.
- Bake at 400°F for approximately 1 hour and sometimes a little longer. To check doneness, remove the pan of potatoes from the oven and insert a knife into the center of the largest one. If it goes in smoothly, they should be ready.
Video
Notes
Tips & Suggestions:
I have included step-by-step photos and directions above to ensure your first attempt will be successful.
Shopping- Try finding them at farmers' markets, or specialty supermarkets, especially in regions with diverse produce. I have also been told that some Trader Joe's and Whole Foods stores carry these purple sweet potatoes, so check with your local stores.
Purple sweet potatoes- It can be tricky to find the right ones because there are different types of sweet potatoes. A potato that is purple on the outside does not necessarily mean it's also purple on the inside. See my photos above for a visual. You might have to ask the store clerk.
Other cooking methods- There are different ways to cook Okinawan sweet potatoes including boiling, steaming, and baking. My favorite way to cook them is baking. I have included boiling and steaming instructions in the post above.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 4g | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 12g