Sweet Potato Love in Korea 🍠
Koreans love sweet potatoes—as chips, drinks, hot straight from a street vendor—you name it, they love it. Sweet potatoes in Korea, called 고구마 (goguma), are slightly different from the potatoes that are found in the United States. Here, we have the orange-fleshed potatoes, while Korea has the purple-flesh potatoes that are naturally sweeter. Because of their natural sweetness, they are better to use in both savory and sweet dishes.
So, what are some different ways you can enjoy sweet potatoes in Korea?
Here are some of our favorites:
As a Drink!
Sweet potato lattes can come either as a soft, pale orange color or a beautiful lavender shade. Lightly sweet with a hint of the vegetables’ signature taste makes these some of my favorite lattes to grab in almost all cafes.
Roasted or Steamed!
A favorite dish in the winter along with other favorites, you can find plenty of street vendors selling steamed or roasted sweet potatoes all over Korea.
Side Dishes!
One of my favorite dishes is 고구마 맛탕 (goguma mattang), a simple, sweet side dish of glazed sweet potatoes. I like when it comes with beef as it pairs so well together.
In Noodle Form!
One popular Korean dish known as 잡채 (japchae) is a noodle dish made with seasoned meat, vegetables, or both. The noodles, 당면 (dangmyeon), are clear noodles made from these potatoes.
As a Pizza Topping!
Whether it’s sliced, diced, or even in a spreadable form, sweet potato makes a delightful topping for your Korean pizza.
Desserts!
Ice cream, cakes, pies, macarons, just about any dessert you can think of has a sweet potato version in Korea. They are so tempting, too—just look at this sweet potato tiramisu and sweet potato ice cream.
What are some of your favorite ways to enjoy sweet potatoes?
Have you tried any of these? Let us know in the comments below!
Written by matchalexie
