In our online feature, In Season, we highlight seasonal fruits and vegetables throughout the year. What they are, the different varieties, their health properties, and how to incorporate them into your cooking.

SWEET POTATOES

What: These tubers, with their reddish-brown skin and orange flesh, have more in common with the morning glory flower than they do with your average spud. They’re also commonly confused with yams, although the yam and the sweet potato are also two distinct species. Whatever botanical family they’re classified in, we know we love these sweet-tasting roots!

Varieties: Sweet potatoes are grown in many parts of the world, and both their skin and flesh colour can vary greatly. In North America, we’re most familiar with the brown-skin, orange-flesh variety.

Health properties: Sweet potatoes have a few nutritional advantages over white potatoes — the main one being that they’re a great source of beta-carotene. They’re also rich in complex carbohydrates and dietary fibre.

Plays well with: Sage, onions, maple, other root vegetables, carrots, pecans, black beans, cranberries, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, coconut.

Simple ways to use: The sweet potato can be treated much the same way as white potato — baked, roasted, fried, mashed (you get the idea). You’ve no doubt seen sweet potato as a side dish at Thanksgiving, often sweetened further with brown sugar and/or marshmallows. But we think the tuber has enough natural sweetness on its own. We’re looking forward to subbing it in for carrots in our baked goods — we’ve been told sweet potato muffins, breads and cakes are vastly superior to those made with carrots. Sounds like a challenge to us!

Storage: Store in a cool, dry, dark place for up to 3-4 weeks.

Get cooking with sweet potatoes!

Sweet potato French toast

Roasted garlic and sweet potato clafoutis

Spiced quinoa, sweet potato, broccoli and cranberry salad

Mexi meatless shepherd’s pie

Roasted sweet potato soup with orange and ginger

Coconut curry with sweet potatoes, chickpeas and spinach

Chicken teriyaki with kale and sweet potatoes

Sweet potato salmon cakes with yogurt dill dressing

Triple-threat superfood burger with sweet potato, walnuts and kale

Curried chicken thighs with sweet potato fries

What’s your favourite way to use sweet potatoes? Let us know in the comments below!