Ipomoea batatas L.
Roasted, fried, boiled or mashed, sweet potato is a good side to serve with meat dishes, and can also be used in desserts. One of the most popular recipes in Brazil is doce de batata-doce (mashed sweet potato paste), easily found in the interior of São Paulo state and a tradition at Festas Juninas (June Festivities). Because it is a good source of carbohydrates, fiber, minerals, B vitamins and antioxidants, lately it started to appear more in the menu of people practicing strenuous exercise. Fun fact: this root native of Central and South America becomes sweet during cooking (as the starch turns into maltose by enzymatic action).
