If you’re after an alternative to your average potato chips that’s equally as tasty yet a little bit more nutritious, why not consider sweet potato instead?
These starchy root vegetables not only taste delicious no matter how you cook them, but they’re also a wonderful source of many essential vitamins and minerals your body needs to support its daily functions.
Why are sweet potatoes considered healthy?
Sweet potatoes are lauded among nutritionists for their amazing health benefits, including the fact they1:
Are a vegetable – unlike standard potatoes, sweet potatoes are actually classified as a vegetable and count towards your five a day. For it to qualify as one whole portion, you’ll need to eat at least 80g (about the size of a medium potato).
Contain lots of antioxidants – sweet potatoes are a natural source of numerous antioxidants which help your body fight off harmful free radicals. This includes anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant particularly prevalent in purple sweet potatoes.
Are a source of beta-carotene – just like carrots, sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene. This is turned into vitamin A by the body which is then used for numerous things, including supporting normal function of the immune system and contributing to maintenance of normal vision.
Have lots of fibre – Sweet potatoes are a prime source of fibre, a substance that’s thought to aid healthy digestion. In fact, 200g of sweet potato contains approximately 6.6g of fibre – that’s just over a fifth of your recommended daily fibre intake!2
How to make sweet potato chips
It couldn’t be simpler to cook up a batch of sweet potato fries, especially if you’ve made standard potato chips in the past.3
Ingredients
- 350g sweet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons of oil
- Seasonings
Method
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 180˚ and wash your sweet potatoes and cut them up into chips. You can also peel them if you prefer them without their skins.
Step 2
Place the sweet potato in a roasting tin, drizzle with your chosen oil and sprinkle over any seasonings. Mix them well to make sure each chip is coated.
Step 3
Cook for approximately 25 minutes or until they look crisp and golden on the outside and are soft on the inside.
How can I flavour my sweet potato chips?
If you’re keen to try out some different flavour variations, there are numerous spices, herbs and oils you could use. What’s more, many are readily available in our range of cooking ingredients. Why not tempt your taste buds with some:
Chilli flakes – for a hint of spice without going overboard, add a scattering of chilli flakes on your sweet potato chips. Shake on a little garlic powder for an even tastier flavour kick!
Coconut oil – this type of oil can give your sweet potato chips a really nice subtle flavour, plus coconut oil’s high fat content makes it great for cooking at high temperatures4. Just don’t add more coconut oil than needed as it can be calorific!
Cumin – an aromatic spice that’s commonly added to curries and Mexican dishes, cumin is the ideal companion for sweet potato. You can buy it in a powder or get it in seed form to grind down which tends to have a punchier taste.5
Salt and pepper – sometimes sticking to the classic seasonings is best. While salt can make things taste even more delicious, try to keep it to a minimum. Ideally, you should only be getting 6g or under of salt per day.6
To make your sweet potato chips extra crispy on the outside, consider tossing them in a little bit of corn starch. After more ways to transform healthy veggies into mouth-watering snacks? Why not check out our guide on how to make delicious kale chips?
Last updated: 30 April 2020
Sources
1 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sweet-potato-benefits
2 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-get-more-fibre-into-your-diet/
3 https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/roastsweetpotatochil_89279
4 https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/why-is-coconut-oil-good-for-you#section1
5 https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/cumin
6 https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/salt-nutrition/
