Baked Sweet Potato Recipes

- how to bake them & homemade topping ideas

Recipes based on sweet potatoes are ideal for including in a diabetic diet as they're a low glycemic index (G.I.) food.

That makes them far better for managing your blood sugar levels than regular potatoes - whether they're mashed, baked or boiled.

Here's some baked sweet potato receipes and some suggestions for healthy, homemade toppings.

How to bake sweet potatoes

Ingredients

• 4 medium sized sweet potatoes, scrubbed
• 2 tbsp olive oil

This is a great recipe to prepare if you're in a hurry or are busy.

1. Preheat oven to 190C, GM5
2. Rub oil into the potato skins
3. Place on a baking sheet
4. Bake in oven for 40-45 minutes, or until cooked

Ideas for toppings

• a traditional southern recipe suggests topping with butter and sprinkling with salt and paprika or a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
• stir together ½ cup sour cream, 2 tablespoons maple syrup together with ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, use as topping sprinkled with your choice of chopped nuts
• In a bowl mix together 150g cream cheese, 1 tbsp medium curry paste, ½ chopped red onion, 5 halved baby tomatoes. Spoon topping over baked potatoes
• top with your favorite hummus - try roasted vegetables, if you haven't already!
• ham & tomato - chopped cooked ham, mash & simmer some tinned tomatoes with a pinch of dried mixed herbs, add chopped ham for two minutes, then pour over split baked potato
• baked beans topped with grated cheese (return to the oven for a minute just to melt the cheese)
• tuna & sweetcorn mayonnaise topping (try using the sandwich filler from the deli counter)
• try some of those sauces that come in jars for making bolognese or chilli con carne
  

Here's a traditional recipe for another southern favourite,

Southern Sweet Potato Pie Recipe

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350F,180C, GM4 degrees.
2. Beat eggs
3. Mix together all ingredients in a large bowl
4. Beat until smooth.
5. Pour or spoon into pie shell
6. Cook in a moderately hot oven for 55-60 minutes.

Crock Pot Sweet Potatoes

This recipe is ideal if you're working, as you can set it on a timer to be ready when you arrive home from work.

1. Wash potatoes, but don't dry
2. Place the still-wet potatoes into crockpot.
3. Cook on a low heat for 4 to 6 hours