Sweet potatoes and yams are virtually inter-changeable in the kitchen. Sweet potatoes have pale-yellow, dry, nutty-flavored flesh. Jewel and garnet are the two most common kinds of yam; both have reddish to purple-colored skin and brilliant orange, sweet, moist flesh. Look for firm, unblemished sweet potatoes or yams. They continue to sweeten after harvest, but they don’t store well and they tend to spoil fairly quickly. Wash them and roast them whole in the skin or peel them to roast, steam, or fry.
Ingredients
Preparation
The small, purple-fleshed Hawaiian sweet potatoes that are sometimes found in the market are especially good this way. Choose firm, fresh sweet potatoes. Wash and scrub them well. Bake in a 375°F oven until tender, about 1 hour. When they are done, split the potatoes open, dot with butter, sprinkle with salt, and squeeze lime juice over them. Scatter a handful of coarsely chopped cilantro over them, if you like.
