Sweet Potato Porridge

Goodness of Sweet Potatoes

Research has found that sweet potatoes may be crucial in combating malnutrition and blindness in Africa. They are often overlooked by cooks, when they are among the most nutritious vegetables from nature's bounty:

• The bright orange ones are high in vitamin A (beta carotene).
  
• Besides vitamin A, a medium-baked sweet potato also contains vitamin C, some vitamin B including folic acid, vitamin E. magnesium and calcium.
• Although sweet in nature, sweet potatoes are not any higher in calories than while potatoes.
  

In spite of its name, sweet potatoes are actually storage roots, like carrots while potatoes are storage stems. They come in variety of flesh colours and skin covers - from orange or red skins and flesh of pale yellow to orange or even purple.

When choosing sweet potatoes, select one without cracks, black spots and wrinkles. Exclude the soft ones too. Sweet potatoes can be cooked in virtually any way imaginable, be it boiling, baking, steaming, frying or micro-waving.

Now, I would like to share one traditional recipe eaten during the Japanese occupation - SWEET POTATO PORRIDGE

Ingredients (serves 4 - 6):

2 medium sweet potatoes (orange flesh)
2 cups of rice
6 cups of water

Method:

1. Dice sweet potatoes into 5 cm chunks
2. After washing the rice, add sweet potatoes and water into rice cooker and set to cook
3. Best served with light dishes such as salted egg, pickles, century egg and the like . . .

Well, Singapore parents, after more than 2 weeks of good food during Lunar New Year, do give this simple dish a try. My children have enjoyed it and I am sure yours too.