Steamed sweet potatoes are an easy, healthy side for any meal. All you need is a steamer basket, a pot, water, and a sweet potato or two. I make these for myself all the time. They're simple, taste great, and make a healthy side dish.
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Steaming sweet potato chunks is simple. Peel, cut into 1-inch pieces, and steam over medium heat until tender. Serve with butter, lemon, or herbs. Enjoy them warm, chilled, or mashed. It's naturally low fat, low calorie, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, and paleo.
Sweet Potato Varieties
- Beauregard are your typical grocery store sweet potatoes. As you would expect, this is the bright orange variety that most people like. Their flesh is mild and sweet.
- Jewel - Orange flesh; soft texture when cooked.
- Garnet - Deep reddish skin; rich orange flesh and sweeter taste.
- Japanese (Satsumaimo) - Red skin with pale flesh; firmer and less sweet.
A few weeks ago, I shared a steamed purple sweet potato recipe. It shows how the flavor and texture are different from the orange types.
Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes
- Water
Are Sweet Potatoes Hard To Cut?
Sweet potatoes are easy to cut. All you need is a large sharp knife and a cutting board.
Peel the skin, cut the potato in half lengthwise so it sits flat.
Then slice each half in half.
Slice across into even pieces.
Trim any large chunks so they cook evenly.
How To Steam Sweet Potatoes
TIP: You can pick up a collapsible steamer basket at the dollar store. It expands to fit different pot sizes.
- Place a steamer basket inside a medium or large pot and add water until it reaches the bottom of the basket.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
- Peel 1-4 sweet potatoes and cut into chunks.
- Add the potatoes to the steamer basket.
- Cover, bring back to a boil, then lower heat to medium.
- Steam for 10-15 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
Serving Suggestions
Boiled sweet potatoes go great with steak, chicken, fish, and salads.
These sweet potatoes are mixed with sautéed mushrooms and served with seared snapper fillets.
Here are a few easy ways to work sweet potatoes into your meals.
- You can have steamed sweet potatoes with absolutely no seasonings and enjoy their earthy flavors. I love to eat them cold!
- Toss them in a skillet to reheat. Pair with 2 sunny side up eggs for an easy breakfast.
- Drizzle with melted butter and fresh lemon juice. Add a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and chopped fresh parsley.
- Combine cooled sweet potatoes with other chopped vegetables and a light vinaigrette for a cold salad.
- Mash steamed sweet potatoes with the back of a fork\. Mix with a little butter, cream, and salt.
Storage and Reheating
Let the sweet potatoes cool to room temperature. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat, warm them in a skillet over medium heat with a pat of butter or a spoonful of olive oil.
You can also microwave them for a minute or two until heated through. They taste great cold too, especially in salads.
Takeaway
Steamed orange sweet potatoes are the easiest way to cook your sweet potatoes! While many people reserve sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving and holiday meals, I eat them year-round.
I mostly make these for myself and I'm so happy to see the leftovers in the fridge the morning after I have them for dinner. They're filling and make a great side for eggs for breakfast.
Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, which supports healthy vision and turns into vitamin A in the body to help keep skin and immunity strong.
A pot and a steamer basket are all you need. Cut them into chunks and steam over medium heat until tender.
Serve warm with butter, chill for salads, or mash with a fork and a little butter or extra-virgin olive oil.
FAQ
Steaming is better because it keeps moisture and flavor in the potato instead of washing it out into the water.
Yes. The skin is edible. Most folks peel them for a softer bite, but it's your choice.
Use 1-4 medium sweet potatoes for this method. That's enough to fill a steamer basket without crowding. An 8-quart pot works well, but you can use a smaller 2- to 4-quart pot if you're cooking just one or two potatoes. If you need to make more, cook in batches so the pieces steam evenly.
Boiling keeps them moist. Baking gives deeper flavor. Both work. It depends on how you want to serve them.
Top with butter, salt, and pepper for a simple side. Add fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon, or a spoon of sour cream. They also pair well with sautéed mushrooms or a drizzle of garlic butter.
Steamed Sweet Potatoes
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Medium or Large Saucepan
- Collapsible Steamer Basket
Ingredients
- 2 sweet potatoes
- water
Instructions
- Peel sweet potatoes and cut into chunks.
- Place a steamer basket inside a medium or large pot and add water until it reaches the bottom of the basket.
- Bring the water to a boil over high heat.
- Add the potatoes to the steamer basket.
- Cover, bring back to a boil, then lower heat to medium.
- Steam for about 10 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
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