How to Cook a Purple Yam
Purple yams are packed with flavor just like the typical orange variety, but boast a striking color to enliven any dish that they make an appearance. Simple to prepare, purple yams can turn ordinary dishes such as pies, cakes and soups into something bright and memorable.
Purple yams are packed with flavor just like the typical orange variety, but boast a striking color to enliven any dish that they make an appearance. Simple to prepare, purple yams can turn ordinary dishes such as pies, cakes and soups into something bright and memorable. Cook these fun yams with moderate heat in the oven to turn them pleasantly moist and ready for inclusion in your favorite dish.
Bake the Yams
Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Poke each purple yam with a fork to pierce its skin and prevent it from exploding in your oven. Wrap yams in aluminum foil and place the yams on a baking sheet.
Place the purple yams in your oven on the center rack. Cook for 90 to 120 minutes, or until the yams are soft when pierced with a fork.
Remove the yams from the oven, and let cool.
Boil the Yams
Place yams in a pot, and cover completely with water. Turn the heat to high and bring water to a boil.
Cover the pot, and lower the heat to medium. Allow the yams to simmer for at least 40 minutes.
Check for doneness by inserting a fork into a yam. If it is fully cooked, it will easily pierce the yam. Remove from the heat when complete, and cool before peeling.
Roast the Yams
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Dice the purple yams into 1-inch cubes, and toss with olive oil.
Arrange yams on a baking sheet and place on your oven's middle shelf. Roast for 45 minutes, or until purple yams are tender, flipping once or twice throughout cooking to promote even browning.
Remove the baking sheet from the oven, and add salt and pepper as desired before serving.
Tip
Purple yams are slightly drier than standard yams. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to any baked recipe using purple yams, and adjust the consistency of other preparations using water to achieve the desired taste and consistency.
warning
Refrigerate any unused sweet potatoes within 2 hours of cooking to prevent spoilage.