Okinawan sweet potatoes, also known as Hawaiian sweet potatoes, are not only delicious but also nutritious and easy to prepare. These vibrant purple-fleshed tubers are a favorite in many households. The Instant Pot makes them even easier to cook, offering an effortless way to enjoy these healthy delights. Unlike the common sweet potato, the Ube or Purple Yam has a sweet aroma and a wonderful texture that is both pleasing and eye catching on the plate.
Instant Pot Okinawan Sweet Potatoes Recipe – The Answer
Using an Instant Pot to pressure cook the Okinawan sweet potatoes is a game-changer. It reduces cooking time significantly and ensures perfectly cooked potatoes every time. For this recipe, you can cook once and eat twice: serve half of them plain and simple right out of the pot, and mash the rest for a different meal. This method is a great go-to for weeknight dinner recipe ideas. The simple technique requires no oven, making it convenient and fast.
To prep cook for the coming weeks, you can make extra and store them as snacks. My middle child, who usually turns his nose up at the traditional yam, loves these and always asks for more. For a healthy side, top with coconut milk and feta cheese cream. This stunning dish is not only better than a regular sweet potato but also Blue Zones inspired, making it a healthy item to add to your meal rotation.
Ingredients
To make Instant Pot Okinawan Sweet Potatoes, you will need:
- 3 medium-sized ube (also known as purple yam)
- 2 cups of water
These ingredients are simple and easy to prepare, making this recipe perfect for a quick and nutritious meal. The vibrant color of the purple yam adds a beautiful touch to your dish, while the water helps to cook the yams to a soft and tender texture in
How Do I Cook Purple Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot?
To cook purple sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot:
- Add 1 cup of water to the base of the Instant Pot.
- Choose your variety of potato—purple, white, or orange yam.
- The key factor is the width at the thickest section of the potatoes to determine the cook time.
- Determine cook time based on size:
- For potatoes under 2 inches, set the timer for 15 minutes.
- For potatoes 2-3 inches, set the timer for 23 minutes.
- For potatoes larger than 3 inches, set the timer for 30 minutes.
- If your potatoes are larger than 4 inches, slice them into more manageable sizes to ensure even cooking.
- Place the potatoes on the trivet, set the timer, and let the Instant Pot do its work.
INSTRUCTIONS
First, pierce and prick the potatoes with a fork all over to allow steam to escape. Place the trivet and water into the pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Set the ube or purple yams down on the trivet. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes, then let it natural release for 10 minutes. For small potatoes, cook for 15-20 minutes, and for large potatoes, cook for 25-30 minutes.
Note, after the cooking time, remove the potatoes from the cooker. Cut each potato in half and add 1-2 tsp butter to each potato if desired, as this is optional but recommended. Serve immediately and enjoy your delicious and perfectly cooked Instant Pot Okinawan Sweet Potatoes.
How to Serve Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes are perfect for meal prep because they can be easily made in a large batch at the beginning of the week. This recipe has been tested with multiple potatoes at a time, so I’m not sure how it would turn out with just one. To keep things simple, I like to eat them plain or with an easy sauce and cooked protein. Some of my favorite recipes and uses include Tahini butter, Refried black beans with burrito toppings, Avocado slices with hemp seeds, and Almond butter with berries, especially on purple sweet potatoes.
For a different flavor, you can try Tahini butter as shown in the photos, or mix them with Refried black beans and add burrito toppings. If you prefer a lighter option, Avocado slices, hemp seeds, and a drizzle of Tahini make a great combination. For a sweet twist, spread Almond butter on top and sprinkle with berries. These versatile sweet potatoes are delicious and nutritious, making them a staple in my kitchen for both quick meals and tasty snacks.
What are Okinawan Sweet Potatoes?
Okinawan sweet potatoes are a root vegetable with high levels of anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant that gives them a distinctive blue appearance. According to SFGate, they are also high in vitamin A, potassium, and fiber. These superfoods are a staple food in Okinawa, Japan, an area renowned for its residents’ longevity. I became interested in making these sweet potatoes because of their delicious taste and wonderful smell.
These potatoes belong to the sweet potato family and are beige on the outside and light purple on the inside. When cooked, they turn a beautiful bright purple and have a light floral fragrance that many love. You can serve them whole, simply peel and eat, or cut in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon or fork. Another option is to let them cool down, then mash them with coconut milk or the milk of your choice until you reach the desired texture. These versatile sweet potatoes are not only a tasty addition to your meals but can also be used in a variety of dishes, including rice porridge instant pot recipes.
Allergy Aware Okinawan Sweet Potatoes
Okinawan sweet potatoes that are pressure cooked and served plain are free from the top 9 allergens. This means that the recipe does not include peanuts, treenuts, egg, soy, shellfish, fish, wheat, or sesame. If you make mashed potatoes and use coconut milk, be sure to substitute it with a milk alternative if necessary. This makes the dish safe for those with various allergies. Always be careful and check the ingredients when someone else makes the dish for you, as some recipes might top with or mix in nuts, butter, or sour cream.
When preparing Okinawan sweet potatoes, it’s important to follow the written guidelines to ensure the dish remains allergen-free. For an allergy-aware version, always verify that all ingredients used are safe and suitable for those with specific allergies. This attention to detail helps in making the meal enjoyable and safe for everyone, ensuring that the dish is free from unwanted allergens.
Confusion Solved: Purple Sweet Potatoes, Ube, or Taro Guide
When shopping at the grocery store, be sure to check the labels to find Okinawan sweet potatoes or Hawaiian sweet potatoes. These sweet potatoes have a smooth beige skin on the outside and are purple inside when uncooked. This is what you need to look for when buying for your recipe. Many people may refer to other root vegetables used in Asian recipes as Okinawan sweet potatoes, but they are not.
For example, Purple sweet potatoes belong to the same botanical family, Ipomoea batatas, as typical sweet potatoes and have a smooth purple skin. Stokes Purple sweet potato is another variety with similar purple flesh. Ube, or Dioscorea alata, is a yam with a brown, rough tree bark-like exterior and starchy texture. Taro has a rough brown exterior and light purple inside but is neither a yam nor a sweet potato. These similar appearances can be confusing due to marketing purposes, so always double-check to avoid mistakes.
FAQs
What is the difference between Japanese sweet potatoes and Okinawan sweet potatoes?
The Okinawan Sweet Potato has a light skin and purple flesh, while the Japanese Sweet Potato, locally known as satsuma imo, features a reddish-purple skin with light-colored flesh that can be either yellow or white. These two varieties also differ in texture. The Okinawan Sweet Potato tends to be denser and starchier, whereas the Japanese Sweet Potato is usually softer and sweeter. Understanding these differences can help you choose the right potato for your Instant Pot recipes.
Can you eat the skin of Okinawan sweet potatoes?
The skin of an Okinawan sweet potato is thin, much like an Irish potato, and can be eaten. Unlike Ube, which has a thick, bark-like skin that helps it store for longer but is unpleasant to eat, the Okinawan sweet potato is part of the morning glory family and is completely unrelated to yams. This makes the Okinawan sweet potato a versatile and easy-to-prepare option for many dishes, especially when using an Instant Pot.
What is another name for Okinawan sweet potatoes?
The Okinawa sweet potato is also known as beni imo, purple sweet potato, or Hawaiian sweet potato. These potatoes are not only nutritious but have also become Hollywood famous. They were featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show in 2009 and were listed by Dr. Oz as one of his top five Superfoods of 2010.