sweet potatoes?

so i keep reading about how sweet potatoes are so good for you, so i've decided to buy some. however i don't know how i should cook them? i know i could bake them in the oven like a baked potato, but i would prefer to use a microwave.

how do you guys prepare them? what kind of toppings do you put on them? thanks :)

My wife just recently started buying sweet potatoes on a regular basis as well. One way she prepares them is to cut them up into strips, just like carrot or celery sticks. They're actually sweeter than celery sticks, comparable to carrots. Our kids LOVE them and I actually like them as well. We just set them out for a snack or sometimes for dinner. They're surprisingly good.

I love cooking them in the microwave. I wash mine (skin on), and pierce it several times all over with a fork; then put it on a plate covered in paper towel, and nuke it for 5 minutes, turn it over, then another 3-5 minutes depending on the size. A little light sour cream or greek yogurt makes it an awesome lunch/dinner side!

I usually bake them (you can nuke them just like a regular potato) and cut them in half, mush up the insides and spray on a little Parkay and sprinkle on some cinnamon.  Yum.  However, my favorite recipe using sweet potatoes is African Peanut Soup.

Also I would suggest going to allrecipes.com and click on Ingredients at the top.  You can put it sweet potato or whatever you are looking for and it will pop up with all the recipes containing that ingredient.

I lovee sweet potatoes. I make them the laziest way possible. Two layers of plastic wrap, then in the microwave for 6-7 minutes. You don't have to put holes in the potato or anything.

you could do it chinese style! (we eat it as a sweet dessert soup thing. but you could cook it and nix the soup if you're on a diet...)

http://www.recipezaar.com/226455

I "bake" on in the microwave and put smart balance buttery stuff, a little honey, dried cranberries, and cinnamon.  Its almost like dessert, but not nearly as bad for you.

MMM I peel mine, cut them up into chunks and boil them for 10-15 minutes until soft. I them mash them up and add a little milk and jamaican jerk seasoning to them. So good and a little different :)

I cut it into wedges (with the skin kept on for added fiber), throw them in a baggie with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and sometimes paprika, cayenne & allspice, and shake the bag. Then I bake them in the oven for 25-35 mins, until they're soft... awesome yam fries!

You can microwave them in a steam bag too but I don't think it would taste as good?

I cut them up like I would a regular potato for french fries or fried potatos then bake them in the oven or occasionally fry them in a skillet with olive oil. You can then sprinkle them with some cinamon and brown sugar and the kids will eat them like they are candy.

I mash em up with pumpkin, honey, and nutmeg.  SO GOOD!

Micro-bakers!!!! They come in a plastic wrap that you keep on, throw them in the microwave for 7 minutes and walla, you've got a baked sweet potato! Use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray (0 cal) and a tsp or two of brown sugar (15 cal/tsp).... so yummy and still only around 130 calories!

I cut one up into chunks (leave the skin on) spray on some butter or olive oil and sprinkle with cajun seasoning...then microwave for ~ 3 min...yum!

Original Post by cellophane_star:

I cut it into wedges (with the skin kept on for added fiber), throw them in a baggie with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and sometimes paprika, cayenne & allspice, and shake the bag. Then I bake them in the oven for 25-35 mins, until they're soft... awesome yam fries!

You can microwave them in a steam bag too but I don't think it would taste as good?

 That sounds awesome!  I am going to have to try that!

Oh man, now I'm craving sweet potatoes SO BAD.

I make an EXCELLENT sweet potato casserole around the holidays (thanksgiving and giftmas) but it's definitely not all that healthy. I may try and do some substitutions like 1% or skim milk (I've used 2% before and it's been fine) and maybe a butter subsitute that's less calories & fat, and egg whites instead of regular eggs....

http://southernfood.about.com/od/sidedishcass eroles/r/bl90911u.htm

SO DELICIOUS.

 

EDIT TO ADD:

I put this in the recipe analyzer and said that there are 7 servings...

http://caloriecount.about.com/recipe/131746.h tml

Yikes...

I absolutely love sweet potatoes! I have mine raw, just cut into pieces - I like to experiment with odd shapes sometimes :D. But to me they're perfect in their natural state, raw, unpeeled.

they are also very good grilled,  in aluminum foil with olive oil rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper, YUM!

Original Post by smader:

they are also very good grilled, in aluminum foil with olive oil rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper, YUM!

When you grill them do you cut them into strips or just bake the whole thing with the seasoning inside the foil?

I LOVE sweet potatoes also but am finding that because my grocery store only offers HUGE HUGE HUGE ones, the cc of one of mine can be as high as 360 calories!!!  Great nutrition but it blows my meal out of my range.  My potatoes always weigh in at over 360 grams.....!  Does anyone know if I can cut them in half and store for the next day?  I worry about oxidation like with apples and/or bananas.

I wash 'em, cut 'em and boil 'em. Drain and set aside. Squeeze an orange into the pot, and heat. Add back in the potatoes. Mash. Add cinnamon. Chopped walnuts optional.

The other way I like them is with a little butter and brown sugar instead of the orange. I'm gonna hold off on that version until after I get to a maintenance weight.

Original Post by heatherhm3:

Does anyone know if I can cut them in half and store for the next day? I worry about oxidation like with apples and/or bananas.

I cut mine up and they keep in the fridge for a day or two just fine. Only the surface that has been cut tends to dry up a little bit but the actual vegetable will be as good as new, just slice off the dried up part before eating if you want (for aesthetic purposes, it's still edible).