Steamed Sweet Potatoes

Name: Steamed Sweet Potatoes
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 29 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds sweet potatoes

This is my favorite way to eat sweet potatoes. Simply steamed! It's a one-ingredient recipe that is super easy to make. Steamed Sweet Potatoes are tender, full of flavor, and very healthy!

There are many ways to prepare sweet potatoes. You can roast them. You can boil them. Or you can steam them.

I like steaming best because it's not only the most delicious, it's also the easiest. and the healthiest.

In general, steaming almost seems like a magic trick. How can the easiest cooking method also be the most delicious and the most healthy? Don't know, but I'm happy that's the way it is!

I generally steam 2 pounds at a time though you can do even more if you have a multi-tiered steamer. These keep well in the fridge and always come in handy for the next couple of days. Think breakfast, snack, etc.

Ingredients

You only need 1 ingredient and it's sweet potatoes!

If you're in Hawaii, many local farms grow beautiful and delicious sweet potatoes. You can find them at a lot of supermarkets and farmers markets. I often get them at the Kakaako Farmers Market or KCC Farmers Market.

We used local Satsuma sweet potatoes for this recipe. Also known as a Japanese sweet potato (or satsuma-imo), this potato is super sweet with a deep yellow flesh. I like how it has a slighy nutty flavor.

Extra note for sweet potato lovers: You can buy roasted Japanese sweet potatoes at many Japanese markets here (I usually get it from Marukai or Tokyo Central). I like to use roasted sweet potatoes for Shio Kombu Sweet Potato.

Use any kind of sweet potato you have available.

We often use Hawaiian sweet potato (which is also known as Okinawan sweet potato) which has a super beautiful purple flesh and can be used in many other recipes including this tapioca dessert!

Instructions

Here's how to make it!

Wash and clean the sweet potatoes. No need to peel the skin.

Photo: Before steaming.

Arrange on a heatproof plate if using a tiered steamer. Arrange in the steamer basket if using a regular pot.

If using a tiered steamer:
Fill the base/pot with water, about 2-inches. Plate the plate with the sweet potatoes in one of the baskets and cover. Turn the heat on high.

Once the water boils, turn down to medium-high and steam for 30 minutes.

Photo: After steaming.

Then turn off the heat. Let cool for 5 minutes. Remove from steamer. Eat and enjoy!

If using a pot with a steamer basket:
Fill the pot with water, making sure to leave a gap between the top of the water and the bottom of the steamer basket. Place the steamer basket with the sweet potatoes in the pot and cover. Turn the heat on high. Once the water boils, turn down to medium-high and steam for 30 minutes.

Then turn off the heat. Let cool for 5 minutes. Remove from steamer. Eat and enjoy!

Top Tip

Steam a bunch at a time! If you're going to do it, make at least 2 pounds. It doesn't matter if you're making it for yourself or have a big family in the house, I never regret steaming extra sweet potatoes. You'll thank yourself for it.

You can have the extra sweet potatoes the next morning for breakfast. Or as an afternoon snack. Eat it plain or serve it in place of your usual starch (which for us, is usually rice haha) at dinner.

FAQ

How long do steamed sweet potatoes keep for?

We usually keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How to reheat steamed sweet potatoes?

I usually reheat in the microwave. Though you can also re-steam the sweet potatoes for 5 to heat it up.

How to eat steamed sweet potatoes?

Just plain, just like that!

When it's hot from the steamer, I put the sweet potato on a plate and let cool for 10 minutes. Then I peel the skin and eat, eat, eat! Some people like to eat the skin - there's a ton of vitamins there but I usually just like the flesh.

Sometimes I "make a plate" for lunch or dinner. Get a large plate and place a still warm steamed sweet potato, split lengthwise. Slice half an avocado and fan it out on the plate, drizzle olive oil and a little sea salt on top. Add protein on the side, I love this with a piece or two of shoyu chicken heheheh ^_^

P.S. The phrase "make a plate" is a very Hawaii thing. I think it comes from potlucks / gatherings where there's a lot of super delicious food, and everyone assembles their own plate. I never hear people on the mainland say this, but I hear it all the time in Hawaii!