Sweet Potato Salads and a Soup!

If you think sweet potatoes are only for Thanksgiving, you're missing out on one of nature's most versatile foods! Try these easy, delicious recipes and you'll change your mind. Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins and minerals, and are such a pretty color that they dress up any table or party buffet. Sweet potato salads make a refreshing, healthful change from ordinary potato salads. The Sweet Potato Bisque is so good that it's bound to become a family favorite.

Sweet Potato-Cranberry Salad

2 pounds sweet potatoes, cut in 1/2" chunks

1 small red onion, chopped

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard

2 tablespoons mango chutney

1/2 cup plain or vanilla yogurt

1 tablespoon cider vinegar, or to taste

Steam the sweet potatoes until they are just tender, about 15-20 minutes. As soon as they are done, rinse them with cold water to stop the cooking and drain.

Meanwhile, combine the other ingredients in a serving bowl. When the sweet potatoes are ready, mix them in. Chill until ready to serve.

6-8 servings

Sweet Potato Salad with Pineapple

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4" - 1/2" cubes

2 stalks celery, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 bunch green onions, sliced

1 cup fresh or canned pineapple, cut into 1/2" tidbits

1 cup cooked, chilled barley

1 cup yogurt or fat-free mayonnaise

1/4 cup bottled mango chutney (optional)

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves or flat parsley leaves (optional)

Cook the sweet potato cubes until they are just tender: either steam them in a steamer for 8-10 minutes, or cook them in a pot of boiling water for about 5 minutes. Rinse under cold water to stop the cooking; drain.

Combine the sweet potato cubes with the remaining ingredients. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

4-6 servings

Sweet Potato Bisque

1 onion, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

8 cups bouillon

1 tablespoon mild curry powder

2 teaspoons thyme

1 teaspoon freshly ground black or white pepper

pinch cayenne, to taste

1/4 cup brandy (optional)

2 cups light coconut milk or soy milk

Combine the onion, celery, sweet potatoes, bouillon, curry powder and peppers in a large pot. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, 30-40 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft. With a slotted spoon, remove about 2 cups of the vegetables and set aside. Puree the remaining soup with a hand blender until it is fairly smooth. Return the vegetables to the pot, stir in the brandy and coconut or soy milk, and heat through.

6-8 servings

Subscribe to my FREE weekly newsletter on fitness, health, and nutrition. Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports -- plus the FREE Good Food Book -- athttp://www.DrMirkin.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gabe_Mirkin,_M.D.

Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

Sweet potatoes are a staple dish in numerous countries, including the United States, China and Indonesia, and are praised by many for the health benefits they provide. Sweet potatoes from Japan are the sweetest. Sweet potatoes have been popular in the South for generations, but in recent decades cooks in other regions have been succumbing to the charms of this healthy and flavorful distant cousin of garden-variety spuds

Sweet Potato Fries are slices of pure sweet potato. Sweet Potato Fries are a wonderful, colorful and healthy change to regular fries. Sweet potatoes not only have more fiber, but, more nutrients than a standard white potato. Sweet potatoes are loaded with vitamin A, or beta carotene, and contain fiber, plus vitamin C, B6 and potassium. Sweet potatoes are packed with nutrients, and one of the best foods you can eat.

Sweet potatoes can be boiled, steamed, mashed, baked, grilled, deep fried, served in a savory soup/broth or coconut milk, hot or cold. Baked sweet potato fries are a great treat, and mashed or baked sweet potatoes make delicious comfort food. Sweet potato fries, baked in the oven, are a wonderful alternative to the traditional French fry. The sweet potato fries were a nice twist to regular French fries. The sweet potato fries are definitely interesting and different, especially paired with the different sauces (thai chili, ginger-wasabi aioli) Sweet potato fries are easy to make, and what I have written below barely qualifies as a recipe.

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

2 large sweet potatoes

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick
vegetable cooking spray. Peel raw sweet potatoes and cut into 1/4 inch
julienne strips. Place in plastic food bag and drizzle with olive oil.
Seal bag and shake gently to cover potatoes evenly. Spread in a single
layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes, stir gently, turning
strips over. Bake 15 minutes, stir gently. Bake 5 to 10 minutes or
until nicely browned. Season hot potatoes with salt, pepper and
cayenne. (I spice them before baking...)

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Ally Sofi is food and drink specialist and continually develop article in the topic.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ally_Sofi