Candied Sweet Potatoes

Candied Sweet Potatoes are a dessert made from sweet potato and sugar syrup, so they offer a combination of sweet-savory and soft flavors. This dessert is very popular in various countries, especially in China. In some countries, it is a typical dish during special events, such as Thanksgiving.

You have to know this simple dessert! Candied Sweet Potatoes are a suitable choice for those of you who like sweet potatoes that are sweet and slightly sticky like candy. When you eat this dessert, the sweet taste will spread in your mouth. To make this dessert, you only need sweet potatoes and sugar as the main ingredients. All the ingredients for this dessert are available in markets and supermarkets. With just 15 minutes of preparation time and 30 minutes of cooking time, you can enjoy this dessert. Serve this dessert when you gather with family or friends.

Description of This Dessert

This dessert has good popularity in culinary traditions. This dessert is usually prepared by processing sweet potatoes and then adding sugar, resulting in a caramelized texture. The process of making this dessert has several steps. Choose sweet potatoes that have smooth skin and are free from blemishes. After that, cut the sweet potato into small pieces. In the process of boiling the sweet potatoes just until they are soft enough. Don’t forget to make caramel sugar. The final stage is to combine the caramelized sugar into the sweet potato and let it sit until the caramel soaks into the sweet potato. You will feel the delicious sweet-savory taste of this dessert.

Tips for Cooking Candied Sweet Potatoes

Cooking this dessert can be a new experience. There are several tips that can help you to get perfect results.

Choose the Right Sweet Potatoes

Choosing the right sweet potato is very important to the result. Choose sweet potatoes with smooth skin and no blemishes. Orange or purple sweet potatoes will have a sweeter taste after cooking.

Cut Sweet Potatoes to the Same Size

To ensure the sweet potatoes cook evenly, cut the sweet potatoes into equal-sized pieces. You can cut sweet potatoes into round or square slices according to your taste.

Cook with Care

Cook sweet potatoes until soft and easy to cut with a fork.

Use Liquid Sugar for Caramel

For delicious caramel icing, you can use liquid sugar. If you want a rich sweet taste, use maple syrup or honey. Feel free to cook this liquid sugar longer to get a thicker, caramelized consistency. The thick syrup will coat the sweet potato pieces perfectly. Of course, the result will create a sweet layer that is appetizing.

Pay Attention to Cooking Times

Make sure the cooking time is not too long. Just enough until the sweet potatoes are soft. Cooking too long will make the sweet potato lose its shape and texture.

When Serving

Serving this delicious dessert while warm. After the cooking process is complete, make sure to serve it immediately in a container. This is so that the appearance of the dessert remains attractive.

The Texture of This Dessert

The texture of this dessert has an important role in giving a new culinary experience. The following is a description of the texture of this dessert.

Soft

Sweet potato is the main ingredient in this dessert and gives a creamy texture. This texture gives a comfortable feeling in the mouth. Apart from that, this softness combines with a natural sweet taste that makes every bite melt.

Thick and Sticky

One of the important elements in this dessert is the sugar coating that coats the sweet potatoes. This sugar melts and forms a thick, sticky caramel. Additionally, sugar gives sweet potatoes a sweet, shiny outer layer. The thickness of this layer varies depending on the amount of sugar used.

Luxury

Overall, this dessert has a luxurious texture. The combination of tender sweet potatoes and thick sugar also gives a complex textural experience with a soft and chewy sensation in every bite.

Other Variants of Candied Sweet Potatoes

This dessert can be made in various variations. Below are several variants of this dessert that you can try to give a new experience and enrich the taste.

Chocolate

For chocolate lovers, you can add a little melted dark chocolate to this dessert. Chocolate gives a bitter taste that counters the sweetness of the sweet potato, creating a balance of flavors. Additionally, you can add cocoa powder to the sugar mixture to give a smoother chocolate taste.

Olives and Herbs

For a more exotic variant, you can also add olives or fresh herbs. Slightly salty olives and fragrant herbs give a healthy, refreshing contrast.

Coconut Cream

To give it a tropical taste, you can try adding coconut cream to the sugar mixture. Coconut cream gives softness and a savory taste that complements the sweet taste of sweet potatoes. In addition, the texture will be creamier.

The Uniqueness of This Dessert

This dessert also has several unique features. Below are some of the uniqueness of this dessert.

Warmth and Comfort

This dessert is famous as a dish full of warmth and comfort. Its sweet-savory taste often brings nostalgia to some people. Many people associate this dessert with memories shared with family and friends, making it a symbol of warmth and affection. The moment of serving this dessert at the dining table is unforgettable.

Culinary Traditions

This dessert has a rich and varied culinary tradition. Apart from that, there are also unique things because serving this dessert is often passed down from generation to generation.

Attractive Visuals

Not only is it delicious, but this dessert also has attractive visuals. The color of the sweet potato combined with the shine of the caramelized sugar creates an appetizing visual. When serving this dessert, it looks sparkling which gives the impression that it is very special and you can enjoy it on special occasions.

Check out this Candied Sweet Potatoes recipe below. Don’t forget to try making it!

Ingredients of Candied Sweet Potatoes

• 3 medium Sweet Potato: As the main ingredient. Gives a soft texture and natural sweet taste.
• ⅓ cup Sugar: To give a distinctive sweet taste. In addition, it can create a thick layer of sugar covering the sweet potatoes and give the dessert a sticky and shiny texture.
• ⅓ cup Water: To soften sweet potatoes.
• ½ tsp Salt: To balance the sweet taste of sugar, helps bring out the natural taste of sweet potatoes. In addition, it can help enrich the overall taste of the dessert.

SUGAR THREAD

• 150 g Sugar: To create a layer of sticky caramel, coating the sweet potato, and giving this dessert its distinctive sweet taste.
• 75 g Water: To dissolve the sugar. Besides that, form the caramel that will coat the sweet potatoes.

How to Make Candied Sweet Potatoes

First, feel and cut sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces and set aside.

Next, heat oil in a pan over low heat then fry sweet potatoes for 5 minutes.

Then, remove from the pan and drain in a cooling rack, and let them cool down.

Turn the heat to high then fry again the sweet potatoes for about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

SUGAR THREAD

In a non-stick pan over medium heat, melt the granulated sugar with water until it turns brown.

Next, pour the caramel into a stainless steel container, let it be half set, and check it with a chopstick and if it makes a thin thread when you pull it then it is ready.

Then, lay the baking paper on the table and flip the container, and let the sugar dripping into the baking paper until it forms a long thread.

COATING

Heat sugar, water, and salt and cook until the sugar is completely melted. Add back the sweet potatoes into the pan and stir until the sweet potatoes are well coated.

Lastly, transfer it into a serving plate and garnish it with sugar thread on top.

Enjoy your dessert!

Nutrient Content

Even though this dessert is famous for its sweet taste, it contains various nutrients that are beneficial for the body. The following is a description of the nutritional content of this dessert.

Carbohydrates

Sweet potatoes are a source of carbohydrates. Additionally, the carbohydrate in sweet potatoes is starch which is easily digested by the body and gives fast energy.

Amino Acids

Sweet potatoes are a source of important amino acids that help the muscle recovery process. Besides that amino acids in sweet potato can maintain healthy body cells.

Potassium

Sweet potatoes are rich in potassium which is important for maintaining body fluid balance, muscle function, and heart health. The potassium content in sweet potatoes is still quite significant, although some of it can be lost during the cooking process.

Serving Recommendations

This dessert is very flexible to eat with other dishes to enhance your culinary experience. Here are several choices of dishes that are suitable to be eaten with this dessert.

Grilled or Sauteed Vegetables

You can combine this dessert with grilled or stir-fried vegetables which have a fresher and slightly sour taste. For example, roasted broccoli, green beans, or sauteed carrots will give a balance between the sweet taste of sweet potatoes. These vegetables also add a different texture giving a contrast to the softness of this dessert.

Fresh Salad

To balance the sweet taste of dessert, a fresh salad with sour dressing can be a good choice. A salad containing green vegetables such as lettuce or spinach dressed with lemon will give a refreshing sour taste and complement the sweet taste of the dessert.

Toast

You can combine this dessert with toast. Toast gives a savory taste that combines with the sweetness of sweet potatoes. Additionally, the combination of toast and dessert will add a more satisfying texture.

Candied Sweet Potatoes is a dessert that is not only delicious but also rich in tradition. The combination of sweet and savory flavors with the soft texture of sweet potatoes makes it the perfect dessert for various occasions. There are many variations and ways of making it to suit tastes, so many people love it.

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Come on, try making other dessert recipes below!

Candied Sweet Potatoes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine Chinese

Ingredients

  

• 3 medium Sweet Potato
• ⅓ cup Sugar
• ⅓ cup Water
• ½ tsp Salt

Sugar Thread

• ½ cup Sugar
• ¼ cup Water

Instructions

 

• Peel and cut sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
• Heat oil in a pan over low heat then fry sweet potatoes for 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and drain in a cooling rack and let them cool down.
• Turn the heat to high then fry again the sweet potatoes for about 1 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Sugar Thread

• In a non stick pan over medium heat, melt the granulated sugar with water until the temperature reaches 320℉.
• Lay baking paper on the table. Pour the caramel into a stainless steel container, let it sit for 20 seconds and flip the container and let the sugar dripping into the baking paper until it forms a long thread.

Coating

• Heat sugar, water and salt and cook until the sugar turns brown. Add back the sweet potatoes into the pan and stir until the sweet potatoes is well coated.
• Transfer it into a serving plate and garnish it with sugar thread on top. Enjoy!

Keyword ba si di gua, chinese candied sweet potato