Sweet Potatoes, Not just for Dessert

Just one baked sweet potato supplies you with twice your daily recommended allowance of vitamin A, 42% of your vitamin C, 10% of your iron, and only 141 calories; making sweet potatoes a favorite of those on diets who just want to enjoy something a bit sweet without having to turn to the candy aisle. Used in entrees, sweet potatoes are also a popular ingredient in many other dishes. In American cuisine, sweet potato is the main ingredient in sweet potato fries, sweet potato pie, and candied sweet potato. You’ll find it in kitchens in the Southern US, the streets of cities all around Asia, and also in Chinese restaurants. In Malaysia, sweet potato is often cooked with coconut milk while in Taiwan and Japan, it is roasted.

In the US, it is making a comeback as people become more health conscious. Popular throughout American history, Americans began to turn away from sweet potatoes after the 1950s as they reminded many of tougher times. But now, people are adding sweet potato back on to their shopping lists because of its great nutritional properties.

One easy to prepare cold weather dish that makes use of sweet potato is Sweet Potato Rice Porridge. It makes a great treat on a cold winter day!

Sweet Potato Rice Porridge

Ingredients

Polished round-grained rice: 50 g

Fresh sweet potatoes: 200 g

Seasonings

White sugar: appropriate amount

Cool water: 1000 ml

1. Rinse the rice with clean water; then immerse it in cool water for half an hour;

2. Strain the rice out; and wash the fresh sweet potatoes clean with water before cutting the rinsed sweet potatoes with peel into small dices;

Preparation

1. Put the sweet potato dices and strained rice into a soup pot or a stockpot; cover them with 1000 ml of water.

2. Put the pot on high heat; when the mixture boils, turn to low heat and let simmer until the porridge comes into being (becoming sticky).

3. Add in white sugar (the amount should be in line with your own preferences for taste);

4. Turn on the high heat and boil until it boils again; then add some water and boil it again;