Growing up, yams were one of my favorite vegetables. Not surprising, since we mostly ate them in the classic casserole with toasted marshmallows.
Imagine my surprise when, as an adult, I learned that I’d never actually eaten a yam. The bright orange, sweet tuber I liked so much was actually the sweet potato. I’m not the only one confused when it comes to yams vs. sweet potatoes. The names are used in grocery stores and recipes pretty interchangeably—but that doesn’t make the vegetables themselves interchangeable.
Are Yams the Same as Sweet Potatoes?
Yams and sweet potatoes are not the same! Though both are root vegetables, they actually grow, look, taste, cook and keep differently. They don’t even belong to the same plant family, and they originate and grow on different continents!
What Are Yams?
Yams are tubers of a tropical flowering vine, a plant family that includes lilies. Yams originated in Africa, and are popular in African, South American and Caribbean cuisine. A purple variety is enjoyed across Southeast Asia.
A yam’s appearance is distinctive, with textured brown skin that resembles scales or even bark. They can grow quite large: over seven feet long, and into the triple digits in weight! Yams can have a similar shape to sweet potatoes, with tapered ends and scattered “dimples” in the skin. The flesh of yams, however, is white.
Yams are a kitchen staple in many cuisines. They’re starchy, with a neutral flavor that’s only slightly sweet. Cooks prize their ability to take on the flavors of a huge variety of dishes. They have a long shelf life, too, of about six months.
The Best Ways to Cook Yams
Yams are fried, roasted, boiled and mashed. They can even be dried and ground into a powder that’s used to make a thick pudding. In some countries, purple yams are used to make desserts like jams and cakes, kind of how the mild-flavored zucchini works in dessert.
What Are Sweet Potatoes?
Sweet potatoes, part of the morning glory family, likely originated in Central or South America. They’re widely eaten in the Americas and are especially popular in the American South. Sweet potatoes are, obviously, very sweet. They’re generally less than a foot in length, with tapered ends. Because they’re cured after harvest, their shelf life is very long: over a year!
There are two main types: firm and soft.
Firm sweet potatoes have paler golden skins and dry, flaky flesh, like many types of baking potatoes. You may also find purple varietals, especially at the farmers market, with nutrient-rich purple skins and flesh. Firm sweet potatoes hold their shape well after cooking, making them ideal for frying, stews or curries.
Common firm varietals include Jersey and Hannah, as well as Hawaiian and Stokes purple sweet potatoes.
Soft sweet potatoes have darker, pink or reddish skin and orange flesh. This variety is more likely to be mislabeled as yams. When cooked, it becomes silky smooth and creamy or fluffy. Both naturally sweet and moist, soft sweet potatoes are popular additions to many dessert recipes.
Common soft varietals include the most common grocery store sweet potato, the Beauregard, which has bright orange, super-sweet flesh that’s ideal for baking; and the Covington, a type popular in the South for roasting and eating plain.
The Best Ways to Cook Sweet Potatoes
Like yams, sweet potatoes are incredibly versatile in the kitchen. They can be roasted or baked (whole or chopped), steamed, boiled, sauteed, pureed and fried. Sweet potatoes are as delicious in a soup as they are in a pie, as delightful in a spicy curry as in a muffin. On their own, roasted sweet potatoes make a nutritious lunch served with nuts and cheese. Add them to salads, tacos, stuffing or grain bowls. Seriously, there are so many ways to cook sweet potatoes.
Sweet Potato and Pesto Slow-Cooker Bread
I like to bake fresh bread at home as a way to offer my family a delicious accompaniment to dinner. Baking bread in the slow cooker allows me to achieve a tender, perfectly baked loaf without turning on the oven. It's especially helpful in the summer when the house gets too warm. This way also eliminates the need for a second rise, which is a nice timesaver. The beautiful braided loaf is one of my favorite recipes. —Shauna Havey, Roy, Utah
One-Dish Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet
I'm still settling into married life and learning how to balance our busy schedules. This quick one-dish ground turkey sweet potato skillet helps keep us on track throughout the week. —Shannon Barden, Alpharetta, Georgia
Harissa Sweet Potato Fritters
I had leftover sweet potatoes and had to think up a new way to use them. We love spice, so I flavored these fun fritters with harissa, just enough for flavor but not too spicy. If you want more heat, you can always adjust the spice to please your taste buds. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan
Sweet Potato and Crab Soup
This sweet and savory soup is quick and easy to prepare. You can substitute butternut squash or pumpkin for the sweet potatoes, depending on what you have on hand. —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Louisiana
Blueberry Chops with Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes
A sweet and spicy combo is the perfect accent for meaty chops. With a fresh green veggie on the side, this is a hearty summer meal. It’s easy, yet impressive enough to serve to company. —Laura Davis, Chincoteague, Virginia
Mushroom and Sweet Potato Potpie
The last time I was in the U.S., I had an amazing mushroom and beer potpie at a small brewpub. It was so rich and comforting. I tried numerous versions when I got home and I think I've come pretty close! —Iben Ravn, Copenhagen, Denmark
Bacon-Wrapped Sweet Potato Bites
After making little bacon-wrapped sausages for years, I needed a change! I had an extra sweet potato and half a package of bacon on hand, so I put on my thinking cap and came up with this treat. —Kelly Williams, Forked River, New Jersey
Fiesta Chorizo-Chicken Soup
Just place some crusty rolls on the table when you serve this soup and you'll have a hearty, comforting meal that will chase away winter's chill. The slightly spicy soup is chock-full of veggies.—Kathy Rodenbeck, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Spiced Sweet Potato Fries
A spicy homemade seasoning blend shakes up everyone’s favorite finger food in this rendition of sweet potato fries. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Sheet-Pan Chicken Curry Dinner
This sheet-pan chicken curry is a quick way to get a meal on the table without fuss. Everyone loves it, and it's healthy to boot! Serve it with a side of jasmine rice. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Bacon & Blue Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Give sweet potatoes the good stuff like pear, bacon, honey and fresh tarragon. If Gorgonzola isn’t your thing, just substitute plain or smoked Gouda. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Air-Fryer Honey Sweet Potatoes
The flavors of sweet potatoes, cinnamon and honey are such classics. Try serving these air-fryer sweet potato cubes as a side dish with roast chicken or pork. —Laura Mifsud, Northville, Michigan
Chicken & Sweet Potato Potpie
Chicken potpie is a top 10 comfort food for me. To save time, we use ready-made phyllo dough and rotisserie chicken, then add sweet potatoes and red peppers. —Jacyn Siebert, San Francisco, California
Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
I can never get enough of these air-fryer sweet potato fries! Even though my grocery store sells them in the frozen foods section, I still love to pull sweet potatoes out of my garden and slice them up fresh! —Amber Massey, Argyle, Texas
Chicken and Sweet Potato Chili
I enjoy this comforting chili on its own but it's wonderful spooned over a bed of steamed rice or an extra helping of protein-packed quinoa. —Brynn Rader, Olympia, Washington
Sweet Potatoes au Gratin
This rich, sweet potato casserole couldn't be any easier to make—or more delicious to eat! —Patti Kirchhoff, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Sausage Sweet Potato Sheet-Pan Dinner
This healthy, foolproof weeknight supper is naturally gluten-free, uses one pan and is on your table in no time! This sausage sweet potato sheet-pan dinner is also easily adaptable to seasonal fruits or veggies. —Melissa Erdelac, Valparaiso, Indiana
Sweet Potato & Caramelized Onion Shells
Gorgonzola cheese and sweet potatoes add a fun and flavorful twist to classic stuffed shells. Delicious with a sprinkle of Parmesan, the pasta can be topped with leftover gravy, too. —Robin Haas, Cranston, Rhode Island
Moroccan Chickpea Stew
This spicy stew was the main dish at our family's Christmas Eve dinner. The guests, including three vegetarians, were thrilled with the abundance of squash, potatoes, tomatoes and onion. —Cindy Beberman, Orland Park, Illinois
Sheet-Pan Tandoori Chicken
This tandoori chicken recipe is easy for weeknights since it bakes in one pan, but it is also special enough for guests. The best part? There isn’t much to clean up when dinner is over! —Anwar Khan, Iriving, Texas
Buffalo Shrimp with Sweet Potato Grits
Combining three of the South's most treasured dishes, makes for a fast, easy, delicious dish to serve for breakfast or lunch! Shrimp and Grits is classic southern comfort food meal at its best. Spicy shrimp topped on a bed of creamy cheesey grits. But this dish takes it a step further by adding another southern staple- sweat potato! Rich and smooth and thick without heavy cream. One bite and your guests will be smiling ear to ear! —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Hoisin Sriracha Sheet-Pan Chicken
The convenience and simplicity of this chicken dinner make it extra awesome. Feel free to change the veggies throughout the year—the sticky-spicy-sweet sauce is tasty on everything!! —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland
Air-Fryer Sweet Potato Chips
This air-fryer sweet potato chips recipe is so quick and easy. Be sure to give the sweet potato slices a quick soak in cold water to help remove some of the excess starch. —Elizabeth Godecke, Chicago, Illinois
Lemon-Dijon Pork Sheet-Pan Supper
Most nights I need something that I can get on the table with minimal effort and delicious results. This sheet-pan supper has become an all-time favorite, not only because of its bright flavors but also because of its speedy cleanup time. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Mom's Sweet Potato Salad
My mother used to make this sweet potato salad recipe. We all liked it back then—and now my family likes it, too! —Willard Wilson, Woodsfield, Ohio
Smoked Salmon-Potato Brunch Bake
The two different potatoes, fresh herbs and different textures make this savory brunch bake unique and special.—Victoria Johnson, Gilbert, Arizona
Sweet Potato & Andouille Hash
When my husband trained for the Senior Olympics, I looked for healthier recipes like these spicy sweet potatoes. Whip up some eggs and serve together. —Marla Clark, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potatoes
These rosemary sweet potatoes are simply one of the best recipes we've ever made. Roasting them brings out all of the wonderful sweetness! —Kristin Stone, Little Elm, Texas
Sweet Potato Chili with Turkey
This sweet potato chili is packed with flavor. Ground turkey lightens it, and sweet potato puree sneaks in a healthy dose of vitamin A. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
Turkey Sliders with Sweet Potato "Buns"
In this healthier take on sliders, I sandwich a burger between roasty slices of sweet potato. My wife took one bite and approved these tasty little guys. —Guy Martino, Charleston, South Carolina
Broccoli & Sweet Potato Salad
A symphony of flavor is yours the minute you bite into this refreshing, colorful salad. The veggies are lightly coated with a simple dressing and accented with thyme and feta cheese. —Mary Ann Dell, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
Air-Fryer Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
These stuffed sweet potatoes are the perfect holiday side dish. Try preparing them ahead of time in the morning and then bake just before serving. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Sweet Potato Pancakes with Cinnamon Cream
Topped with a rich cinnamon cream, these pancakes are an ideal dish for celebrating the tastes and aromas of fall. —Tammy Rex, New Tripoli, Pennsylvania
Butternut Squash Jumble
I took this to a Thanksgiving potluck one year when I couldn't go home for the holiday, and it was a huge hit. It's something different without being too nontraditional. It's also good at room temperature, so it's one less thing to worry about when you're trying to figure out serving times. I like Gorgonzola for this, but any blue cheese would work. If you can find the precrumbled cheese, even better. —Kara Brocious, Indianapolis, Indiana
Maple Miso Sweet Potato Casserole
This recipe takes a beloved holiday side dish and gives it a savory twist. —Sara Schwabe, Bloomington, Indiana
Smoky Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchiladas
My hearty, delicious, nutrient-packed vegetarian dish is amazingly healthy. Everyone I've made it for has loved it—even carnivores! I always make two batches and freeze one. You'll want to eat this every week! —Elizabeth Lindemann, Salem, Massachusetts
Chicken Sweet Potato Skillet
One of the first things my husband made for me was a variation of this chicken sweet potato skillet. Over the years, it has become a family favorite. Top with cheese, sour cream, avocado, lettuce or anything else your family likes. —MacKenzie Wright, San Antonio, Texas
Creamy Vegetable Chowder
This rich, comforting soup recipe can easily be doubled or tripled. You can lower the fat content by using turkey bacon, vegetable broth and skim milk. It's delicious either way. —Suzanna VandeBrake, Peyton, Colorado
Mini Sweet Potato Scones with Rosemary & Bacon
Everyone who tries these scones thinks they're delicious! To save a little time in the morning, combine the dry ingredients and cut in the butter the night before. I usually stir in the crumbled bacon at that time, too. Cover and refrigerate overnight and proceed with the recipe the next morning. In addition to saving time, this also allows the rosemary and bacon to come through, and chilling the butter in the mix results in tender scones. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Cranburgers with Sweet Potato Fries
Do you have leftover cranberry sauce? Put it to good use with these hearty, yummy turkey burgers, and finish it up with some sweet potato fries. Voila! Dinner is done. - Nancy Bourget, Fort Hood, Texas
Saucy Indian-Style Chicken & Vegetables
This Indian-style dish seems to develop a devoted following. Prepared sauce makes it easy to bring the rich flavors of Indian cuisine to your family. Feel free to use more or less tikka masala sauce according to your personal taste. —Erica Polly, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Chipotle Sweet Potato Salad
I love the velvety taste and texture of sweet potatoes. A friend served sweet potatoes cooked with peppers and they tasted delicious together. I took those flavors and developed them into this creamy, smoky potato salad. —Carolyn Eskew, Dayton, Ohio
Coconut Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew
This stew tastes as if you spent hours in the kitchen. The flavors of coconut milk, sweet potato and coriander nicely complement the chicken. A garnish of cilantro and toasted coconut adds a bit of sophistication. —Nicole Filizetti, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili
My whole family enjoys this sweet potato black bean chili, but my daughter especially loves it. I like to make it because it's so easy and very flavorful. —Joy Pendley, Ortonville, Michigan
Sweet Potato & Chorizo Croquettes
Chorizo and paprika add smokiness to these crispy bites. For a harvest party, make them into little pumpkins using pretzel sticks and cilantro leaves.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Duo Tater Bake
I made this creamy and comforting potato dish for Thanksgiving and it was a winner with my family. They said to be sure to include it at every holiday dinner. It's a keeper! —Joan McCulloch, Abbotsford, British Columbia
Sweet Potato Bean Soup
I felt like making some black bean soup, but I had a sweet potato that needed to be used, so I combined the two and created this delicious option. It joins the creaminess of the sweet potato with the crunch of corn and bell pepper. —Michelle Sweeny, Bloomington, Indiana
Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Gorgonzola Spread
My husband first tried this recipe with plain potatoes. They were so yummy; we experimented with sweet potatoes. Dipped in Gorgonzola spread, they’re irresistible. —Kristen Minello, Macomb, Michigan
Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Chocolate Mole Soup
This recipe is perfect for those days when you’re craving something just a little bit different. It’s spicy, flavorful and a delightful excuse to open up a bar of chocolate—if you’re the type of person who needs an excuse! —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Sweet Potato Pilaf
The combination of sweet potatoes, bacon, asparagus and kale makes this simple Sweet Potato Kale Pilaf taste amazing! To save time and dishes, you can easily cook the rice in an Instant Pot and also use it to saute the other ingredients. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
Beefy Sweet Potato Chili
There's no better way to warm up than with a bowl of this chili. We created this recipe with friends when we lived in Seattle, where cold and rainy days are plentiful. Sweet potatoes are the secret ingredient, but even if you leave them out, you'll still have a tasty basic chili. —Jonell Tempero, Omaha, Nebraska
Beefy Sweet Potato Soup
I hate being cold, but one of the best remedies for that is warm soup. I took my mother’s water-based vegetable soup recipe and worked with it to make the flavors richer. The meat and veggies in this dish are the perfect cure for a cold night and a hungry family. —Lisa Cooper, Leander, Texas
Baked Sweet Potato Chips
The next time you have the hungries, don't reach for high-fat junk food. Instead, spend a few minutes preparing these oven-baked sweet potato slices from our Test Kitchen.
Sherried Sweet Potato Soup
I stir up a pot of my smooth, spiced sweet potato soup when I want something out of the ordinary for guests. Using an immersion blender will result in a creamier texture.
Curried Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
This chicken and sweet potato dish is a delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors. I like to add a bit more spice. Make sure to keep the sweet potato chunks large so they keep their integrity over the long cooking time. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Air-Fryer Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken Nuggets
I was looking for ways to spice up traditional chicken nuggets and came up with this recipe. The coating adds a crunchy texture and flavor, while the meat is tender on the inside. —Kristina Segarra, Yonkers, New York
White Bean, Sweet Potato & Pepper Ragout
“I try to serve a meatless meal two or three nights a week. It's a great way to keep up our vegetable intake-along with all the fiber and nutrients they provide. It even helps save money! This hearty comfort food is a family favorite.” Heather Savage - Corydon, Indiana
Pressure-Cooker Salsa London Broil
I love using my pressure cooker for this recipe because it comes together so quickly but still has that long, slow-cooked flavor. The veggies semi-melt into the sauce to give it an added savory taste and the lime gives it a pleasant finish. —Ann R Sheehy, Lawrence, Massachusetts
Barley Vegetable Soup
Our taste testers loved this delicious vegetarian soup brimming with veggies and barley. Though it doesn’t taste like it, the recipe from Mary Tallman of Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin has only 128 calories and 1 gram of fat!How Did the Names Get Mixed Up?
There are several theories. One is that firm sweet potatoes were cultivated in the US first, and when farmers brought soft varietals to market, they wanted to differentiate the types. Because soft sweet potatoes, with their darker skins look something like yams, the name transferred.
Around Thanksgiving, you’ll often see sweet potatoes, both raw and canned, proudly labeled “yams.” It’s confusing, but these super-sweet tates are the ones you want to add to your favorite Thanksgiving recipes.
The post Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes: Which Should You Use for Thanksgiving? appeared first on Taste of Home.
source https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/yams-vs-sweet-potatoes/
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