Sweet potatoes are a root plant that is commonly used in cooking.
Just as the name suggests, these potatoes have a sweet taste due to the high content of sugar. Sweet potatoes do resemble potatoes but have qualities on their own which makes them unique. They are rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as high in fiber.
The pale color of the sweet potatoes is another feature that makes them unique. When it comes to cooking, sweet potatoes can be boiled, baked, steamed, or fried.
There are many you can combine sweet potatoes with as a side dish or main. You can easily find sweet potatoes at your local market or at the grocery store. But if you are looking for something similar, is there a way that you can substitute sweet potato?
Can I substitute sweet potatoes? Of course!
You can replace sweet potatoes with Garnet potatoes, pumpkin, white potatoes, Butternut squash, celery root, corn squash, jewel potatoes, or some of the following ingredients.
Read below more on each replacement and find the suitable ingredient for your next recipe.
Substitutes For Sweet Potatoes
1. Garnet potatoes
The first thing that comes to mind when you need to replace sweet potatoes is to use Garnet potatoes. This is the closest substitute you can find that has many things in common with sweet potatoes. They have light red skin with orange flesh.
The flavor is amazing and can be described as sweeter than regular potatoes. This type of potato is very healthy and nutritious. Use in many recipes to make the swap.
2. Pumpkin
The sweet orange type of fruit that is similar to sweet potato is pumpkin.
Easy to find with a creamy texture and similar taste to sweet potatoes, you can add them in desserts, soups, salad, or every other recipe that calls for sweet potato.
Rich in vitamins and minerals, with low levels of calories, use it in your daily cooking routine.
3. White potatoes
If you are out of sweet potatoes and you need another type then white potatoes are your thing. If you need a creamy texture with a neutral flavor, then white potatoes make an excellent choice. Use in almost every recipe except soups.
White potatoes will also increase your health as they will provide a lot of vitamins and minerals which are good for daily use.
4. Butternut squash
Butter squash makes a great choice for any recipe that you should have used sweet potato. This is yet another healthy squash with many vitamins.
You can bake the butter squash, mash roast, and use them as the recipe requires for sweet potatoes. The sweet and nutty taste will fit perfectly in your recipe.
The difference between sweet potatoes and butternut squash is that the latter has more calories, sugar, and carbs.
5. Celery root
Celery or celery root makes a great replacement for sweet potatoes.
You can add it to stews, soups, salads, or any other species that need a sweet potato. Once the celery is cooked you’ll get a similar taste to sweet potatoes.
The appearance is very notable, which is hard to resist not to use in your cooking.
6. Acorn squash
A type of squash similar to sweet potatoes is the Acorn squash.
You can use it for baking, roasting, steaming, and even boiling for most of the recipes that need sweet potatoes. However, since it has seeds you should clear it out before using it.
Rich with nutrients, the acorn squash is ideal for most of the recipes that include sweet potatoes.
7. Jewel potatoes
Just throw in some jewel potatoes and your recipe is saved. Use them when you are baking or making casseroles since they are the ideal replacement.
They have dark orange skin with a nice moistness once they are cooked. The taste may not be the same, but they are suitable in every recipe. And they are very healthy.
8. Russet potato
Russet potato makes a perfect replacement for sweet potatoes because of the many similarities. They are large with a dark color you can add it in many recipes.
They can be chewy when cooked. You can mash them, bake or roast with their skin on. The skin is thick and fluffy which is good for many recipes.
It is a healthy substitute for sweet potatoes with many advantages.
9. Carrots
A common veggie that we almost always have in our fridge is carrots.
With a sweet taste similar to sweet potatoes, you can replace them in almost any recipe. As you know you can eat them fresh, baked or roasted.
Usually, they are crunchy when they are eaten fresh and added to many salads. Use them in soups, stews, or any other recipe.
They are known for their orange color and are common among kids. It is a very healthy choice with many vitamins and minerals.
10. Ube
A mild sweet veggie with a nutty taste that you can use in your cooking if you want to replace or avoid using sweet potatoes is Ube.
Typically, Ube has a purple color but it can vary. You can use it in many different desserts, baking goods, or any other recipe that needs sweet potato.
Ube also has vitamins, healthy carbs as well as fiber.
11. Yukon gold potatoes
Root veggie with golden skin and yellow flesh, the Yukon gold potatoes can also replace sweet potatoes in your recipes.
The creamy flavor may not be as sweet as the sweet potatoes, but you’ll adjust it based on the other ingredients that are used. It is perfect for boiling or baking.
Yukon also has very healthy benefits with many vitamins and minerals.
12. Japanese sweet potatoes
Similar to regular potatoes and yet another replacement for sweet potatoes will be the Japanese sweet potato.
The taste and texture are very similar and once it is cooked the flesh becomes even softer. It is a very healthy ingredient with many vitamins, magnesium, and iron.
13. Parsnips
A root veggie with cream-colored skin that can replace sweet potatoes is parsnip.
It is sweet, maybe even sweeter than carrots, which makes them a perfect replacement for sweet potatoes. You can use it in practically every recipe that requires sweet potato.
You can eat parsnip raw as it is in salads or cook it and add in stews or other recipes. Parsnip is a good source of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and other minerals which are beneficial.
14. Kabocha
A kabocha, also known as the Japanese pumpkin, can be used instead of sweet potatoes in your next meals. Green with bumpy skin with dark yellow flesh, you can find this veggie in many recipes and cuisines.
You should know here that Kabocha has more of a fluffy texture with a sweet taste which is very similar to sweet potato. Use this ingredient in most recipes the same way as sweet potatoes. You can boil them, roast, bake or add them to stews as well.
Kabocha is also a healthy option with vitamin C and other vitamins.
15. Golden beets
Crunchy golden beets are another option when you have no sweet potatoes.
When you cook them, they will become more tender, smoother and the taste will be mild with sweet traces. You can use them as part of the main dish, steam, or boil them and you can easily recognize them by their yellow-colored skin with bright yellow flesh.
They have many health benefits that will be a good plus in your daily routine.
16. Yuka
If you are making soup or frying and you have no sweet potato, you can add Yuka instead.
Good for baking, frying, boiling, you can add Yuka in recipes that require sweet potatoes. It is a root vegetable with a similar taste to sweet potato, soft texture, nutty taste that has carbs, small amounts of fiber, and many vitamins and minerals.
It is gluten-free, so anyone can use it. You can also eat it as it is before cooking it.
17. Yams
Another vegetable that is a suitable replacement for sweet potato is Yams. With origins in Asia, African and Caribbean parts, Yams became very popular and common in many cuisines.
What is interesting about Yams is that they are typically mistaken for sweet potatoes, but they are not the same thing. You can bake, roast, boil or steam it, and it will fit perfectly in your next recipe as a substitute for sweet potatoes.
You can easily recognize it by its brown skin. The flesh can be white, yellow, purple, yellow, and even pink depending on how mature it is.
18. Spaghetti squash
Sweet potatoes find their replacements in spaghetti squash.
This bright yellow squash can successfully replace sweet potato in most of your recipes. It has a very distinctive stringy texture which once it’s cooked it becomes softer. Further, the taste changes as well and becomes neutral.
You can add it to soups, sweets, and even salads. Spaghetti squash can be baked, roasted, or steamed based on the recipe you are making.
This is also a healthy option with many vitamins and minerals that can boost your health.
19. Taro
An exotic veggie similar to potato and a good substitute is Taro.
It has a nutty flavor with a mild sweet taste when you cook them. You can boil, roast, fry, or bake Taro just like sweet potatoes. It is a scratchy and edible root with many different vitamins as well as minerals which will help your health.
20. Plantains
Similar to sweet potatoes, plantains are another way to replace them in your cooking.
The taste and texture are similar to regular potatoes. Very delicious as a side dish or main, you can bake them, steam, grill, or fry plantains. They have scratches and less sugar.
Use in most recipes that require sweet potatoes.
21. Red potato
A different type of potato is considered a good option for replacing sweet potatoes. They can be small or medium, round with thin skin.
When you cook the red potatoes they have a waxy and dense texture with an earthy mild taste. Perfect for salads, side, or main dishes. When they are cooked, they are great to add in sweets or soups.
You can also mash them or depending on what kind of recipe you are making.
22. Tapioca
Tapioca scratch is similar to sweet potato, which means that it can be used as a replacement in your cooking.
It is extracted from the roots of cassava plants with nutritious elements and low calories. Add in many recipes and adjust the quantities that you add.
23. Eggplant
Eggplant is a member of the same family as potatoes. Therefore, they are used in similar recipes. Either raw or cooked, add eggplant to almost any recipe that requires sweet potatoes.
They can serve eggplant as a main dish, side dish, baked, fried, or however you want. The texture of the eggplant and the taste will be perfect for your next dinner recipe.
Eggplants are nutritious with low fat and calories and many vitamins and minerals. Eggplant and sweet potatoes, as you can notice, share similar nutritious facts.
Related Questions
Can I substitute regular potatoes for sweet potatoes?
If you have no sweet potatoes at home, then you can use regular potatoes instead. The flavor and texture will be similar and will fit well with the other ingredients.
What is the difference between yams and sweet potatoes?
Yamas and sweet potatoes are not the same things. Yamas have dark brown skin and the flesh looks like regular potatoes. Further, sweet potatoes have a smoother red skin with soft flesh and a sweet taste.
What do sweet potatoes go well with?
Sweet potatoes can be combined with salmon, halibut, cod, vegetables, and many other ingredients like zucchini, cauliflower, greens beans, etc.