Twice-Baked Sweet Potato (Yam) Recipe with Chipotle Pecan Streusel (2024)

FAQs

Why do Southerners call sweet potatoes yams? ›

So, why do Americans call some sweet potatoes yams? Because enslaved Africans were transported to the Americas, and their main staple crop in Africa was yam. Yams were so important in West Africa that the word “yam” is derived from “nyami,” which mean “to eat” in some West African dialects.

Sweet potatoes cook more quickly than yams, are moister, and they taste distinctly sweet. When cool, they do not turn steadfastly glutinous and solid.

The main reasons for soggy sweet potato wedges are: overcrowding the baking sheet, not tossing in enough oil, having too thick sized wedges, and not roasting at a high enough heat.

The nutrients in sweet potatoes have been shown to have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. While yams are a good source of fiber and minerals, sweet potatoes are more nutrient-dense and lower in calories, ultimately making them the better choice.

Are Yams and Sweet Potatoes the Same? No, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same. Yams have rough, dark brown skin that is often compared to tree bark, and their flesh is dry and starchy like a regular potato. Sweet potatoes have smooth reddish skin, softer flesh (when cooked), and a sweet flavor.

Can You Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Microwave? Yes, you can! In fact, the shorter cook time will help the sweet potatoes retain more nutrients that are often lost in the long oven-baking process. It's not all that different than baking a sweet potato in the oven, except it's a whole lot faster.

How Long to Roast Sweet Potatoes. This recipe produces perfectly roasted sweet potatoes after about 30 minutes in an oven preheated to 425 degrees F. If you like your roasted sweet potatoes very soft, you might want to cook them a tad longer.

The healthiest ways to prepare sweet potatoes are to steam or boil them. You can also bake, roast, or fry sweet potatoes, but you should take care to limit these preparation methods, which will cause the sugars to break down in different ways and often include extra recipe ingredients like oil, butter, or sugar.

TIPS & TRICKS to Make this Recipe: The main secrets to achieving that incredible crispy texture, is to soak the cut sweet potatoes in cold water for at least 30 minutes. This helps remove the starch from the sweet potatoes so they´re not limp & soggy.

(Another hot tip if you're boiling your sweet potatoes: Don't overcook them! They tend to absorb water, which could make the filling watery.)

Why does my sweet potato taste sour? ›

Wrinkly skin If your sweet potato's skin looks shriveled or wrinkly, this is a surefire sign of decay. A wrinkly sweet potato will taste sour or “off,” and it can even cause sickness if eaten, so it's safest to throw them away.

Candied yams are not really yams. In America, the term “yam” is used to denote a softer variety of sweet potato. A true yam is a drier, starchier root native to Africa and Asia. The sweet potato we see on holiday buffets originated in South America.

Sweet potatoes tend to have a more tapered shape and may be firm or soft with thinner skin. Generally, sweet potatoes taste sweeter than yams. You will more readily encounter sweet potatoes during your regular grocery run, but if you spot a yam, which may be labeled "sweet potato," you'll know the truth.

In the United States, the terms "yam" and "sweet potato" are used interchangeably, but they are completely different vegetables. Yams are starchy and have a rough, brown exterior. They can grow up to 45 feet long and are eaten in parts of Latin America, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia.

There are five main types of sweet potato that are commonly consumed today—Garnet, Hannah, Japanese, Jewel, and Purple Stoke. While all are delicious, each variety has its own distinct flavor and texture that lends itself to a variety of cooking applications.