Boniato Sweet Potatoes
Estimated Inventory, 40 lbs : 0
Description/Taste
Boniato sweet potatoes are medium to large in size and are roughly ovate and tubular with many lumps and tapered ends. The semi-rough skin is splotched with hues of dusty rose, light brown, and purple patches, and it is often speckled with small, shallow eyes and root hairs. The flesh is creamy white offering a fluffy, dry, and starchy texture when cooked, similar to that of a white potato. Unlike yellow and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, the Boniato sweet potato is not as sweet. When roasted whole, its best flavorings evolve within its skin, emitting a subtle sweetness with notes of chestnuts.
Seasons/Availability
Boniato sweet potatoes are available year-round.
Current Facts
Boniato sweet potatoes, botanically classified as Ipomoea batatas, are one of the most popular sweet potatoes in Latin America and Asia today. Also known as Batata, Cuban sweet potato, White sweet potato, Kamuras, and Camote, there are multiple varieties of Boniato sweet potatoes, each varying slightly in exterior coloring, growing season, and tolerance to pests and disease. In recent years, the Boniato has also become a significant commercial crop in Florida to meet the demand of an increasing population of Cubans in southern Florida.
Nutritional Value
Boniato sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants.
Applications
Boniato sweet potatoes are best suited for cooked applications such as baking, steaming, boiling, sautéing, roasting, and frying. They are popularly enjoyed in empanadas or mashed croquettes stuffed with ground beef. Boniato sweet potatoes can also be mashed with fresh garlic for a savory side dish, or they can be cubed and roasted as a topping on flatbreads or a filling for tacos. They can also be pureed for use in soups, stews, puddings, pies, and muffins. Boniato sweet potatoes pair well with goat cheese, roast pork, grilled pork chops, raisins, pecans, bell peppers, eggplant, arugula, sage, and cilantro. Boniato sweet potatoes will keep for a few days when stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. Do not refrigerate Boniato sweet potatoes as this can cause them to deteriorate faster.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
In the United States, the term sweet potato is commonly associated with sweet orange-fleshed tubers, but in Central America, Latin America, and Asia, it is the white fleshed Boniato that has long been synonymous with sweet potato. It is said that the Boniato owes its name to the early Spanish explorers of the Americas who upon finding the tuber discovered it was not poisonous. They named it after the Spanish word for “harmless” or “good,” which was an indication that the tuber was safe to eat.
Geography/History
The sweet potato is believed to have originated in tropical regions of the Western Hemisphere and was grown extensively throughout the continent well before the arrival of the Europeans. Boniato sweet potatoes are thought to have made their way to Asia via pre-Incan explorers traveling to the Easter Islands, and in time, the Boniato would become one of the staple food crops of Asia. Today nearly ninety percent of the world’s production of Boniato comes from Asia. Florida has also become a major producer of Boniato. In South Florida, nearly five thousand acres of Boniato are grown annually. Boniato sweet potatoes are sold predominately in international markets and specialty grocers and can be found in Asia, the United States, Cuba, and Central America.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Boniato Sweet Potatoes. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Love & Lemons |
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Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers |
| The Domestic Man |
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Mashed Boniato |
