When I'm eating out at a restaurant, I always substitute sweet potato fries when they're available because why wouldn't I want to eat dessert first?! Sweet potatoes are so deliciously sweet that it's hard to believe they could actually be good for you as well! These root vegetables are packed full of vitamin A, an important antioxidant that promotes healthy vision and helps prevent cancer. They also contain other antioxidants that protect against heart disease and vitamins that are critical to maintaining cellular function. I could nerd out forever on the anatomy behind it... but here are two ways to incorporate this beautiful vegetable into your diet (did I mention orange is my favorite color?):
SWEET POTATO FRIES
- 3 large sweet potatoes, washed, peeled and chopped
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Herbs/seasoning
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. Cut into ~1/2 inch french fry strips. Toss strips in a mixing bowl with olive oil, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you desire. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the fries out individually in a single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes and remove when sweet potatoes are golden and toasted.
Serve as a side dish or with condiments such as ketchup or my personal favorite, honey.
SWEET POTATO JUICE
- 2 medium sized sweet potatoes, washed and peeled
- 2 medium navel oranges, peeled
- 1 lemon, peeled
Peel vegetables and juice (sweet potatoes - highest speed, orange & lemon - low speed).
I've been wanting to try sweet potato juice for awhile, so you could imagine how excited I was to juice it myself for the first time! I juiced the sweet potatoes first so I could taste their flavor alone and decided it needed some citrus to cut the sweetness. The end result = my newest obsession, the perfect combination of tart and sweet :)
Be sure to share your sweet potato experiences with me! I'd love to hear any recipes that you have to share.
