5 sweet potato dishes to enjoy any time of the day

by Kwanele Mathebula
sweet potato dishes

Our Food Editor Ntwenhle Gcabashe shows you how to impress with these simple sweet potato dishes. 

1. Sweet Potato & Chives Pancake

 

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Serves: 2

  • ½ cup sweet potato, cooked and mashed
  • ½ cup fresh chives, chopped
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 cup self-raising flour, sifted
  • 2 tablespoons castor sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1½ cup (375ml) milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • Sour cream, for serving
  • Fresh watercress leaves, for serving
  • Cherry tomatoes, for serving
  • Avocado slices, for serving
  • Pomegranate seeds, for serving
  1. Mix sweet potato and chives in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Add flour, sugar, cheese, milk and egg. Mix to form a thick batter.
  3. Heat butter in a frying pan. Spoon and spread batter. Cook for 4–5 minutes on each side.
  4. Serve with sour cream, watercress leaves, cherry tomatoes, avocado slices and pomegranate seeds.

2. Sweet Potato Stuffed With Mince

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serves: 2

  • 4 medium sweet potatoes, halved and baked
  • 2 cups minced meat
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) oil
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 cup bacon, chopped
  • ½ cup (125ml) tomato passata
  • Salt and pepper
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated
  • Fresh coriander leaves, chopped
  • Sweet chilli sauce, for serving
  1. Heat oil and fry garlic and bacon until fragrant.
  2. Add minced meat, and fry for 8–10 minutes or until browned.
  3. Add tomato passata, and season with salt and pepper. Place on top of sweet potato halves. Sprinkle with cheese.
  4. Serve with coriander and chilli sauce.

SEE ALSO: 7 chicken recipes to enjoy with your family

3. Sweet Potato & Chicken Bake

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Serves: 2–3

  • 3 medium sweet potatoes, thinly sliced
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) oil
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • 1 medium leek, chopped
  • 1 cup frozen sweet corn, thawed
  • 1 cup (250ml) cream
  • 1 cup (250ml) milk
  • Salt and pepper
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • Fresh chives, for serving

 Preheat oven to 180˚C.

  1. Heat oil and fry garlic until fragrant.
  2. Add leek, chicken and sweet corn. Cook for 14–15 minutes or until cooked through.
  3. Add cream and milk. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer mixture into oven dish. Top with sweet potato slices. Sprinkle with cheese and paprika.
  4. Bake for 25–30 minutes. Sprinkle chives and serve.

4. Sweet Potato Crisps

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 4–5 minutes

Serves: 2–3

  • 3 large sweet potatoes, thinly sliced
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Oil, for frying
  • Pepper, for serving
  1. Mix sweet potatoes and cayenne pepper in a bowl.
  2. Heat oil in a pan. Fry sweet potatoes for 4–5 minutes or until golden.
  3. Sprinkle with pepper, and serve immediately.

SEE ALSO: 3 tropical pawpaw dishes

 

5. Double Layer Cake

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 55 minutes

Serves: 10

  • 1 cup sweet potato, cooked and mashed
  • 1½ cup self-raising flour
  • ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • Pinch ground cinnamon
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 cup castor sugar
  • 1 cup walnuts, chopped
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • ½ cup (125ml) milk

Frosting

  • 1 cup (250ml) fresh cream, whipped
  • 4 tablespoons icing sugar, sifted
  • Icing sugar, for dusting
  • Fresh cherries, for serving
  1. Preheat oven to 180˚C.
  2. Sift flour, bicarbonate, cloves, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.
  3. Add sugar, nuts and sweet potato. Mix well.
  4. In a jug, whisk eggs and milk. Pour over sweet potato mixture, and mix well. Spoon into a lightly greased baking tin. Bake for 50–55 minutes, and set aside to cool down.
  5. Cut cake into two layers.
  6. For frosting, mix cream and sugar until smooth. Spread on each layer of cake, and place back together.
  7. Dust with icing sugar and serve with fresh cherries