Around the world, no gathering is complete without a delicious meal. Today, with access to global cuisines at our fingertips, we have the opportunity to experiment with food like never before.
I grew up in a large family, where every celebration meant my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and dozens of cousins gathered to create lasting memories. In our bustling homes and chaotic kitchens, we filled the nights with laughter and everyone had a hand in cooking delicious meals made with love.
Watching the men and women working together to create unique, yet familiar, dishes using the spices they grew up with always inspired me. Like a well-orchestrated symphony, everyone had a job, and innovation was always welcome.
As someone who loves food and believes in the power it has to bring people together, I also believe in the healing powers food holds.
Holding the ability to take on both sweet and savouy flavors, American sweet potatoes lend the perfect texture to desserts, breads, sauces, and more. Also, incorporating them into cultural dishes is a fun way to elevate family favorites. Call them the chameleons of the culinary world!
Read below for a few creative ways to incorporate this vibrant and nutrient-packed root vegetable into your celebration meals.
Appetizers:
Enjoy the texture and flavor of sweet potatoes by incorporating harmonizing notes like tart, spice, and a satisfying crunch, such as with India’s ever popular chaat. Replacing all or half of the standard yellow potatoes with sweet potatoes adds a beautiful flavor contrast – and nutrients – to this North Indian classic dish. Use these Savoury Sweet Potato Rounds as inspiration.
Sides:
I encourage you to think outside the box and experiment with the sweet potato to create the perfect side. Slice, soak, coat and fry into the crispiest fries before seasoning with familiar spices for a fun fusion that everyone is sure to love. Check out these Crispiest Peri Peri Fries for inspiration!
Breads:
Steamed and pureed sweet potatoes lend both moisture and texture to yeast doughs that bake up into perfect pillowy rolls and loaves with a hint of sweetness and beautiful hue. Brush on a generous amount of garlic butter for an impressive – and sneakily nutritious – bread that is perfect for sopping up your favorite gravy, sauce or curry.
Desserts:
Whip up a show-stopping fusion dessert and incorporate the subtly sweet flavor and soft texture of sweet potatoes into your favorite family recipe. They are a perfect addition to your favorite pie, cake, brownie, pudding or cookie recipe. Consider these Sweet Potato Shortbread Bars, for example.
Substitutions:
Sweet potatoes can easily be used in place of apple sauce, pumpkin, squashes, carrots, and more.
Flavor Pairings:
To get you started, here are some herbs and spices that complement sweet potatoes wonderfully!
Basil, bay leaf, chives, cilantro, dill, parsley, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, allspice, anise, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, curry powder, nutmeg, paprika, smoked paprika, black pepper, red pepper flakes, sage, star anise.
Play with your favorite recipes! Food has no rules, and substituting or adding sweet potatoes into nostalgic special dishes is a fun way to increase both flavor and nutritional value of the meals you enjoy most!
Not all sweet things must come to an end, let's stay in touch!