An explanation of the history of sweet potatoes, a vegetable that serves autumn flavors, and how to eat them in a delicious way!

In this article, we will explain sweet potatoes, which are popular as autumn flavors.

Sweet potatoes (scientific name: Ipomoea batatas ) are perennial plants of the Sweet Potato family, and their edible parts are enlarged roots that store nutrients, known as "sweet potatoes." Also known as Kansho, it is known as a sweet potato, and as the name suggests, it is popular as a sweet potato. It is native to Central and South America, from Mexico to Guatemala, and spreads to Europe and Asia, and is now cultivated all over the world.

In Japan, it was introduced from the Ryukyu Kingdom (now Okinawa Prefecture) to Satsuma Province (now Kagoshima Prefecture) during the Edo period, and it spread throughout the country. It was known as "sweet potato" in various parts of Japan as a "satsuma potato" and thus its name was "sweet potato."

Sweet potato nutrition and health benefits

Sweet potatoes are known as extremely nutritious vegetables. It is rich in starch, vitamin C and dietary fiber as its main nutrients. Vitamin C in particular is more than five times as high as apples, and is not easily broken even after heating. It also contains a lot of dietary fiber, which activates the function of the intestines and is effective in relieving constipation.

It is also rich in minerals such as potassium, iron, copper and manganese, which can also help prevent hypertension and anemia. The purple variety contains anthocyanins and the orange variety contains beta-carotene, which can be expected to have antioxidant properties.

Sweet potato history

Sweet potatoes have a long history and are said to have been cultivated in the Mexico region since before 3000 BC. Later, it was brought to Peru in South America, and pottery depicting sweet potato leaves and flowers have been discovered in ancient Peru ruins.

When Christopher Columbus discovered the New World at the end of the 15th century, it was introduced to Europe and became popular in Elizabethan England due to its sweetness. It is said that in Japan it was introduced from Ryukyu to Satsuma in the early 17th century, and spread throughout the country as a disaster-stricken crop in the event of a famine.

Sweet potato types and characteristics

There are many varieties of sweet potatoes, each with different characteristics. Below are the representative varieties and their characteristics.

• Beni Azuma
  is a variety that is commonly found in eastern Japan, with a deep red-purple husk and a deep yellow inside. It has a crunchy texture and sweetness, making it suitable for making baked sweet potatoes and sweets.
• Beniharaka
  Kyushu No. 121 and Harukogane, and as the name suggests, it is said to be "much" tastier than other varieties. It has a strong sweetness and is rich in water, making it a delicious steamed or dried sweet potato.
• Naruto Kintoki (Narutoki Ntoki)
  is a variety grown in the sandy area of ​​Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture, and is characterized by its crisp texture and strong sweetness. Suitable for tempura, university potatoes, and sweet ingredients.
• Anno Imo
  is a variety from Tanegashima, Kagoshima Prefecture, and is characterized by its extremely sweet and sticky texture. Also known as "Honey Potato", it is suitable for baked sweet potatoes, dried sweet potatoes, and desserts.

Delicious sweet potato recipes

Sweet potatoes are delicious simply by grilling or steaming them, but they can also be applied to a variety of other dishes. Below are a few recipes.

1. Sweet potatoes stir-fried with butter and soy sauce

Ingredients (for 2 people)

• Sweet potato: 1 bottle
• Butter: 10g
• Soy Sauce: 1 tablespoon
• Sugar: 1 tsp
• Salt: a little
• White Sesame: Appropriate amount

How to make it

1. Wash the sweet potatoes thoroughly and slice them into thin slices with the skin on.
2. Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the sweet potatoes and fry over medium heat.
3. Once the sweet potatoes are tender, add soy sauce and sugar, stir-fry and season with salt.
4. Sprinkle with white sesame seeds and it's finished.

summary

Sweet potatoes have been loved by many people since ancient times due to their rich nutritional value and deliciousness. By learning about the history and features of sweet potatoes, you will not only be able to eat them, but also feel the charm of them even more deeply. Please enjoy a dish made with sweet potatoes as a way to taste autumn.

Introducing our special recipes for epi recipes

Please also take a look at the recipes.

Sweet potatoes

To use the sweet potato skin as a container, we use the sweet potatoes baked in the oven. The sweetness increases by slowly cooking it, but it takes a long time to cook it, so if you're in a hurry, you can use steamed sweet potatoes.

Chestnut

Chestnut kinton is one of the classic New Year's New Year's dishes.
The area around the sweet potato skin is very sensitive, so remove it if you have time.
By smoothing the bean paste, it will give you a glossy golden chestnut kinton.

Sweet potato grilled butter

The sweetness of sweet potatoes and the flavor of butter go well together.

Sweet potato caramelize Imokenpi style

If the sweet potato starch remains on the surface, it will quickly become colored when it is placed in the oil, so after cutting it, soak it in water to thoroughly remove the starch. By applying olive oil to the batter, it will peel off when the caramel hardens.

Sweet potato risotto

This risotto is a stunning autumn made with Anno potatoes and mushrooms. You can substitute other mushrooms for Hiratake. It is difficult to adjust the amount of water when making risotto, but once you get used to it, you can also arrange it with a variety of ingredients, so be sure to master it.

Sweet potato gnocchi

When molding gnocchi, it sticks easily, so the key is to make it while thoroughly sprinkling flour. After boiling the sweet potatoes, thoroughly remove the moisture and wipe them to the powder to give them the perfect firmness.

Sweet potato zenza

Sweet potatoes can be lined to give them a smoother texture, but if you want to enjoy the texture, you don't need to sip them on purpose. The amount of granulated sugar to be used is about 25-50g, and adjust it according to the sweetness of the sweet potato. You can also arrange it into a pudding by adding melted gelatin.

Steamed chicken with sweet potatoes

A light, light dish made by stick-like sweet potatoes and steaming them. This time I'm pouring some flavoured sauce on it, but you can also try combining it with your favorite sauce or seasonings.