Brighten your table with roasted purple sweet potatoes! Their deep violet color comes from natural antioxidants, and roasting makes them tender inside with golden edges. This easy side dish pairs perfectly with fish, chicken, turkey, or steak.
Quick Look: How To Roast Purple Sweet Potatoes
- Taste: Mildly sweet, earthy, and nutty, with crisp edges and a tender center.
- Servings: 4
- Total time: 45 minutes
- Main ingredients: Purple sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt, black pepper, and fresh herbs.
- Tools needed: Large sheet pan, parchment paper, mixing bowl, vegetable peeler, and chef's knife.
- Why you'll love it: This colorful, nutritious side dish is easy to prepare and pairs well with salmon, chicken, turkey, or steak.
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Purple Sweet Potatoes
Purple sweet potatoes have a sweet, earthy flavor and a denser, drier texture than orange sweet potatoes. Roasting makes them tender inside with crisp, lightly browned edges. Serve them warm with eggs for breakfast or as a colorful side dish for lunch or dinner.
Purple sweet potatoes are available in several varieties, including Stokes Purple and Okinawan. Their color, sweetness, and moisture level vary by variety.
Purple sweet potatoes are a little drier and less sweet than the orange kind, but you can cook them the same way, just roast, steam, or boil.
Try my steamed purple sweet potatoes for faster prep, or these roasted purple sweet potato halves with lemon chive dip for a different way to enjoy them.
They even make excellent fritters. If they seem a bit dry, serve them with a sauce like tzatziki or drizzle with Manuka honey.
Nutrition
To get a nutritionist's perspective, I reached out to Lena Bakovic, MS, RDN, CNSC, from Live It Up.
Bakovic explained that purple sweet potatoes get their color from anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds also found in blueberries. These compounds help protect cells from oxidative stress and are being studied for their potential role in supporting overall health.
Purple sweet potatoes also provide fiber, which supports digestion and helps promote fullness. In addition, they contain vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B6.
Orange vs. Purple Sweet Potatoes
Color: Orange sweet potatoes get their color from beta-carotene, the nutrient in carrots. Purple ones turn deep purple from anthocyanins, the same antioxidant found in blueberries.
Flavor: Orange varieties, such as Beauregard, are sweet and moist. Purple sweet potatoes are denser with a mildly earthy, nutty taste.
Cooking: Both roast well, though purple sweet potatoes take a little longer to soften. Orange ones caramelize more quickly.
Nutrition: Both kinds have fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. Orange sweet potatoes have beta-carotene, which helps your eyes. Purple ones are packed with anthocyanins, antioxidants that may support heart health.
Ingredients
- Purple sweet potatoes: Look for Stokes Purple sweet potatoes, which have reddish-purple skin and deep violet flesh, or Okinawan sweet potatoes, which have light tan skin and purple flesh.
- Oil or butter: Use extra-virgin olive oil, melted grass-fed butter, or coconut oil to moisten the potatoes.
- Salt: Choose a clean salt such as Oryx Desert Salt or Redmond's Real Salt.
- Black pepper: Add freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Fresh herbs for garnish: I'm using chopped curly parsley and thyme. Rosemary, chives, and green onions also work well. The herbs add color and fresh flavor.
How To Roast Purple Sweet Potatoes
Adjust oven rack to the middle position and preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
In a large mixing bowl, toss cubes with oil, salt, and pepper.
Spread in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
Bake 30-40 minutes, until tender and lightly browned. There is no need to toss them.
Let cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
Garnish with fresh herbs and add more salt if needed.
Storage and Reheating
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes or in a skillet until warmed through.
- You can also freeze roasted potatoes for up to 2 months. Reheat from frozen in a hot oven.
Optional Toppings
- Drizzle with honey or maple syrup before serving for added sweetness.
- Add crumbled feta or goat cheese.
- Swap butter for coconut oil
Pairings
Make a rice bowl with roasted potatoes, white or brown rice, a protein like seared chuck steak , sliced avocado, fresh herbs and a good-quality salt.
- Serve as a colorful side dish with dinner.
- Add to grain bowls with rice, quinoa, or greens.
- Use leftovers in salads or breakfast saute with onions for a quick plate of homefried
Roasted purple sweet potatoes pair well with grilled fish, roasted lemon basil chicken, or seared steak. They also look stunning next to holiday dishes like turkey or ham.
For more healthy sides, check out What To Eat With Sweet Potatoes.
Sauté the cooked sweet potatoes with onions until lightly browned.
Enjoy with eggs for breakfast.
More Healthy Vegetable Recipes
We love fresh veggies!
If you're wondering what to eat with sweet potatoes, here are some of our favorite fresh veggie recipes:
Frequently Asked Questions
They have a mildly earthy, nutty flavor that's less sweet than orange sweet potatoes but still delicious.
Absolutely. They're rich in fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and anthocyanins, antioxidants that support heart health.
Yes. Roast them, let them cool, and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven to bring back the crisp edges.
Look for them in well-stocked grocery stores, farmers markets, or specialty stores like Sprout's, Whole Foods, or Asian markets.
Roasted Purple Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds purple sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- freshly ground black pepper (optional)
- 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, or basil.
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to the middle position and preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Peel and cut sweet potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss cubes with oil, salt, and pepper.
- Spread in a single layer on the prepared sheet pan.
- Bake 30-40 minutes, until tender and lightly browned.
- Let cool 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs and add more salt if needed.
Dave says
Thank you for sharing!
Suzy says
I heard about these on Instagram. Just got some at Sprouts, thanks.
Anonymous says
My family loved this!