Sweet Potato Hash Recipe with Creamy Avocado Sauce (2024)

FAQs

Is sweet potato and avocado good for you? ›

Both ingredients are high in fiber and potassium, but like every dynamic duo, they bring out the best in each other. The avocados have fats to help your body absorb the sweet potato's vitamin A, and they also add immune-boosting vitamin C, says nutritionist Tara Dellolacono Thies, R.D.N.

Starch is a complex carbohydrate that's abundant in our sweet potato flesh. When we're heated, the starch granules absorb water and swell up, releasing a sticky substance known as amylopectin. Think of amylopectin as our sweet potato glue—it's what gives us that creamy, velvety texture when mashed or baked.

For sweet potato cubes.

Cut the potato lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick planks. Stack 2 slices on top of each other and cut the sweet potatoes lengthwise into 1/2-inch-wide batons. Gather 6 of these batons together and cut them crosswise into 1/2-inch cubes. Repeat with remaining pieces of sweet potato.

Gastrointestinal Health

Along with anti-inflammatory properties, sweet potatoes have plenty of gut-friendly fiber, especially if you eat the skin. They are a mixture of soluble fiber, which can lower cholesterol and balance glucose, and insoluble fiber, which helps keep your bowels healthy and regular.

They're high in fiber and antioxidants, which protect your body from free radical damage and promote a healthy gut and brain. They're also incredibly rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A to support good vision and your immune system.

Slow-roasting the sweet potatoes activates endogenous enzymes that bring out their natural sweetness.

The ooze is actually referred to as "sap." It is made up of sugar and starch combined with the moisture found in the vegetable, and it escapes from the damage made by the knife. The sap really equals the sweetness. If it's pouring out of your potato, that means it's a sweet and delicious vegetable.

There is not much difference between boiling sweet potatoes with the skins on versus peeling them, but you will get a boost of fiber and potassium if you keep the skin on. The skin also adds a subtle texture to each bite. If you're looking for a smoother mash, peel the potatoes first before boiling.

Good news: vets give the OK when it comes to dogs and sweet potatoes! In fact, sweet potatoes are considered a healthy treat for dogs and offer lots of nutritional value for your pooch. Just be careful how you go about introducing this fiber-rich starchy root to your pooch.

Pull out the sweet potatoes and let them cool. Once they're cool enough to touch, use your hands to peel away the skins easily.

Can you eat raw sweet potatoes? ›

“Sweet potato, often associated with oven baked, roasted or mashed, can actually be consumed raw,” says Cox. But you'll want to grate the flesh first to make it more palatable: “Grated into a slaw, sweet potatoes are a super source of beta carotene, vitamin C and fibre.”

Yes, you can eat sweet potato skin, whether it's an orange, white or purple sweet potato. So the next time you make sweet potatoes, try keeping the skin on. Not only will it save you prep time and add a textural component to the dish, but there are also nutritional benefits to leaving the peel on.

Potatoes: Peel or pare and chop up to a day in advance. Store in a bowl of cold water in the refrigerator. Sweet potatoes: Peel and chop 3 to 4 days in advance. Store in a sealed bag or container with an airtight lid in the refrigerator.

As we know, sweet potato has several benefits that make it worth including in your weight loss diet. So, by incorporating it into healthy meals and watching your portion sizes, you may find that it does support your weight loss goals and results in getting rid of unwanted belly fat.

The Bottom Line

Sweet potatoes are full of antioxidants, vitamins and fiber to support your eye, digestive and heart health. They're generally safe to eat daily, especially if you eat them with calcium to prevent calcium oxalate kidney stones. There are so many fun and tasty ways to eat sweet potatoes.

Just one sweet potato gives you 102% of the vitamin A you need each day. This helps keep your eyes healthy as well as your immune system, your body's defense against germs. It's also good for your reproductive system and organs like your heart and kidneys.

Sweet Potatoes

Plus, their high fiber content helps protect the body from free radical damage and supports a healthy digestive tract, which is critical in the body's natural detox process.