So you're short on time, but still want to be able to enjoy a quick and delicious meal. You can opt for a fluffy sweet potato cooked in the microwave. Cooking this tuber in the microwave is simple, fast and allows you to obtain the same sweetness guaranteed by a traditional oven. The very thin skin of the sweet potatoes will give the dish a touch of crunchiness, while inside you will find a soft and sweet pulp. You can decide to enjoy them plain or season them with new ingredients to savor a different dish every time!
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Cooking
Step 1. Wash the potatoes
Clean the tubers under cold running water using a vegetable brush. Make sure you clean them thoroughly, then dry them carefully using absorbent paper.
This step is very important if you want to eat the peel as well
Step 2. Score the peel with a fork
Pierce the peel of the potatoes 6-8 times along the entire surface. By cooking in the microwave oven, the inside of the tuber will heat up very quickly and the steam produced will concentrate between the pulp and the skin. In an unmarked potato, the steam produced by cooking would have no escape and could cause it to explode in the oven.
- Just make small holes in the surface of the peel, without pushing the fork too deep into the pulp.
- Alternatively, you can use a knife to carve a slight "X" on the top of the tuber.
- Don't skip this step; it is very important if you want the potato to cook perfectly.
Step 3. Prepare the tuber for cooking
Tear off a sheet of blotting paper, then moisten it with cold water. Squeeze it gently to get rid of excess water, being careful not to tear it. Line the bottom of a microwave-safe dish with the wet sheet of paper, then place the tuber in the center. Cover the potato by folding the edges of the paper back on themselves, but without over tightening.
- In cooking, the wet paper will provide an effect similar to that of steaming.
- This will help to preserve the natural humidity of the potatoes, preventing them from wilting, at the same time it will keep the skin soft and prevent it from becoming crunchy.
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Never use aluminum foil when cooking with the microwave!
If you choose to cook sweet potatoes in the microwave, never wrap them in aluminum foil, otherwise electrostatic sparks will be generated which could start a fire as well as seriously damage the appliance.
Step 4. Place the dish inside the microwave and select the cooking time
The latter varies according to the size of the potatoes and the power of the appliance. Most medium to large sized potatoes require 8-12 minutes cooking at maximum power.
- Try baking them for an initial time of 5 minutes, then remove them from the oven to turn them upside down so they can cook evenly on both sides. Put them in the oven again and continue cooking for another 3-5 minutes, depending on the degree of softness achieved.
- If at the end of the process the potatoes do not seem completely cooked, continue cooking at intervals of 1 minute, checking their softness regularly.
- If you want to cook several potatoes at the same time, you need to increase the cooking time by about 2/3. For example, if a large potato requires a cooking time of 10 minutes, cooking two at the same time will take 16-17 minutes.
- If you prefer sweet potatoes with a crunchy skin, cook them in the microwave for 5-6 minutes then remove them from the absorbent paper and finish cooking in the traditional oven for 20 minutes at 200 ° C, using a suitable pan. Compared to the traditional cooking method, this trick allows you to get crispy sweet potatoes in half the time.
Step 5. Check the cooking of the potatoes
Remove them from the microwave with great care as both the tuber and the plate it rests on will be hot! Once cooked, if subjected to firm pressure, the potatoes will appear pliable while maintaining consistency. If they seem too firm, cook them further in one minute intervals until they are perfectly cooked. To check their doneness, you can stick them in the center using a fork. If the cutlery penetrates easily and the center still appears slightly firm, the tuber is ready.
If you have any doubts about cooking, remember that it is always best to remove potatoes from the microwave when they are still slightly raw. Overcooking them will cause them to burn or explode inside the oven
Step 6. Wait for the tubers to cool
Remove and discard the paper towel wrapping the potatoes. At this point it is advisable to wait about 5 minutes for the tubers to cool. The residual heat trapped inside the potatoes will finish cooking them, guaranteeing a final result with a soft heart and a not too dry outer surface.
If you're saving a potato for a late diner, wrap it in aluminum foil to keep it warm for a long time. Place it in the paper immediately after removing it from the microwave to conserve as much heat as possible
Step 7. Serve the potatoes
Cut them in half lengthwise and serve them on the table.
Part 2 of 2: Toppings
Step 1. Serve a tasty sweet potato
Complement your sweet potato the classic way. Add some melted butter, a pinch of salt and pepper, a little sour cream and some chopped chives.
For an extra touch of flavor, you can add small pieces of bacon or sausage (if you're craving meat)
Step 2. Turn your sweet potatoes into a dessert
Sprinkle them with brown sugar, then add the butter and a pinch of salt. This version of sweet potatoes is delicious and can be served after a meal.
- If you love maple syrup you can use it as a garnish to complete the dish.
- If you have a greedy and creative soul, try adding a puff of whipped cream as well.
Step 3. Experiment
You can use different combinations of your favorite ingredients to season your sweet potatoes. Here are some ideas to take inspiration from:
- Sliced avocado
- Mexican Sauce
- Mustard
- Fried eggs
- Chopped onion or cilantro.
- Alternatively, you can use ready-made sauces to your taste, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, or barbecue sauce.
Step 4. Complete the dish
There are dozens of options you can take advantage of to complement your sweet potato dish. If you want to make a quick dinner, you can accompany the potatoes with the sauce you love or enjoy them with some great yogurt. Alternatively, you can use them as a side dish for a succulent steak, roast chicken, or vegetarian dish.
Advice
- Some microwave ovens have a specific function for cooking potatoes. If you have any doubts about cooking and if your oven is equipped with this option, use it without fear.
- Sweet potato and dioscorea (also known as yam) are two different vegetables. Most sweet potato varieties are the same shape and size, with tapered ends and considerably smaller than yams. Although they are tubers with a very similar flavor, sweet potatoes are not starchy and dry like yams. If you have mistakenly bought yams, you can still cook them as you would with sweet potatoes; you probably won't notice any difference in the end.
- If you don't have much time available, cut the potatoes immediately after taking them out of the microwave, season them as you like (you can also choose to eat them plain) and cook them again for another 30-60 seconds, so that the added ingredients blend together. perfectly.
- Have fun and satisfy your every desire. Eating plain sweet potatoes without any seasoning would be a crime! If you feel like experimenting with a particular flavor, try pairing it with your sweet potatoes. You will find that it will be a lot of fun to invent new flavor combinations using the versatility of this tuber.
- The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) said sweet potatoes are the most nutritious vegetable.
Warnings
- A small amount of fat will promote the absorption of the beta-carotene contained in potatoes. If you plan to enjoy plain sweet potatoes, you can season them by simply adding a tablespoon (15ml) of extra virgin olive oil to each tuber.
- If you buy potatoes to set aside, store them in a cool, dark and dry place. Do not store them in the refrigerator, otherwise they will tend to dry out.
