Batata asada (roasted sweet potatoes) is a very simple dish, with roots in our indigenous ancestors, and traditionally linked to roadside food stands and campesino cooking. While it is typically cooked with a wood fire, here I share with you two more ways to make it at home.
By - Reviewed: . Original: Jun 21, 2021
Why we ❤️ it
This simple and uncomplicated dish has surprisingly complex flavors, the result is a smooth texture, smoky, lightly spicy, and sweetish side dish.
We love it as a snack, or as a breakfast side dish with a hot breakfast drink.
What is batata asada?
Batata is one of our favorite Dominican tubers, and we can enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert. An inexpensive, versatile ingredient, our beloved batata has a special place on our tables.
Batata asada is a dish made by roasting sweet potatoes buried under hot ashes or embers, producing a creamy soft center, and a crispy blackened peel that is discarded.
Roasted sweet potato (Dominican batata asada).
Serving suggestions
This vegan side dish is a great breakfast and dinner choice and can be served with Chocolate de agua (non-dairy cocoa), Chocolate con leche (Dominican hot cocoa).
For something more substantial, serve with Revoltillo de huevos (Dominican eggs), Salami Guisado (Dominican salami hotpot), Salami frito (Dominican fried salami) or Queso frito (Dominican fried cheese).
An unusual taste, but very flavorful option is boiled batata and Arenque con huevo (Smoked herrings with eggs).
Top tips
- How to pick batata: Pick smallish batata for this dish, as they cook faster and tend to be sweeter. Make sure the batata is firm, with no holes from insects (a common insect that attacks it is called "piogán" in the D.R., and it damages it and makes it bitter).
- Storing: Batata asada is best eaten steaming hot, but you can refrigerate it wrapped, and reheat in the oven before serving. It lasts up to two days in the fridge.
- Baking time: How long it takes to bake a batata will depend on the size. I generally calculate about an hour per pound in the oven.
- Flavor: Each of the methods I mention below produces different flavors. While I admit that the traditional method is my favorite (I love the smoky flavor), roasting it in an oven is fine when that's what you have on hand.
About this recipe
Traditionally, batata was slowly roasted buried under hot ashes.
I remember my grandma using the last embers of her anafe (charcoal stove) to make batata asada. There was a designated spot in her backyard, away from the house or any flammable materials where she'd bury the batata alongside hot embers. They'd be ready for breakfast.
You can make something slightly similar in a regular oven, which is one of the methods I share here.
Video
Recipe
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Batata Asada (Roasted Sweet Potatoes)
Ingredients
- 4 small batata, about 5 ounces [150 grams] each
- 1 tablespoon salt, (if you will boil it)
Instructions
1. Wash batatas
- Wash the unpeeled whole batatas.Let them air dry or pat dry with a paper towel.
2. Roast
- - Cooking in the oven or air fryer:Wrap each separately in tightly wrapped aluminum foil.Cook in the preheated oven at 300 ºF [150 ºC] for 40 minutes, or until it's cooked through.To test it, remove one from the oven, unwrap, and poke to the center with a skewer or toothpick).Unwrap and roast in the broiler until the skin is charred a bit. This is optional.- Cooking in a wood stove or BBQ:Wrap each one separately in tightly wrapped aluminum foil. This is optional.Once you're done with the fire, bury the batatas surrounded by the hot coals and let them cook with the door or lid closed overnight.- Cooking in an open fire (traditional):Make a shallow hole in the ground and place the wrapped batatas in it. Make a fire with some wood. Once you've done with the fire, place the hot embers above and below the batata and bury everything under a 2-3 inches [5-7 centimeters] of dry dirt and leave it cooking 6-8 hours.⚠️ Be careful when dealing with open fires, follow local laws and mandates, and never leave fires unattended.
3. Serve
- Serve unpeeled (you can scoop it out of the peel with a spoon). The peel is not supposed to be eaten.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
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Más recetas con batata
In our recipe collection you can find all our traditional recipes with batata. If you want to try some lovely desserts, enjoy it in Pan de batata, Jalea de batata, and Paleta de batata.
Try our popular Batata frita (sweet potato fries), and don't miss our stews Chambre and Sopión.
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