Is yacon the same as sweet potato?
No, yacon and sweet potato are different plants. Although both are root tubers and are used as vegetables in the kitchen, they belong to different plant families and have different properties.
What can you do with yacon?
Yacon can be prepared and used in various ways. Here are some examples:
- Raw as a snack: Yacon can be eaten raw, similar to carrots or apples. To do this, the root is peeled and cut into thin slices or pieces. The slices have a crunchy texture and a refreshingly sweet taste. Yacon can also be added to a salad to give it a sweet note.
- Baked or grilled: Yacon can also be baked or grilled, similar to potatoes or sweet potatoes. To do this, the root is cut into thin slices or pieces and marinated with oil and spices to taste. It is then baked or grilled in the oven or on the barbecue until it is soft and crispy.
- As a syrup or powder: Yacon can be made into syrup or powder to serve as a natural sugar substitute. The syrup has a caramel-like flavor and can be used to sweeten tea, coffee or desserts. The powder can be used as an ingredient in smoothies, muesli or baked goods.
- In the food industry: Yacon extract and powder are also used in the food industry as a natural sweetener or fiber additive.
- In naturopathy: Yacon is used in naturopathy due to its prebiotic effect and its positive effects on blood sugar levels.
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Can yacon be eaten raw?
Yes, yacon can be eaten raw. In fact, yacon is often eaten uncooked as a snack as it has a refreshingly sweet and slightly sour taste, similar to a mixture of pear and melon.
To eat yacon, it simply needs to be thoroughly washed and peeled, as the skin is hard and inedible. It can then be cut into thin slices or pieces and eaten straight away. Alternatively, yacon can also be grated and used as an ingredient in salads or smoothies.
There are also many other ways to use yacon in the kitchen, e.g. as an ingredient for soups, stews or gratins, as a garnish for meat or fish dishes or as an ingredient for desserts and baked goods.
Why was yacon banned for a long time?
Yacon was not really forbidden, but was neglected and underutilized for a long time, especially in Europe and North America. This is mainly due to the fact that, until recently, yacon was only grown in the Andean regions of South America and was therefore hardly available for the global market.
However, there are also reports that yacon was banned in colonial times in Peru and other parts of South America, as it was considered food for slaves and the poor by the Spanish conquistadors. Later, yacon was also used by the Incas as a medicinal plant, which led to the plant being suppressed during the colonial period.
Nowadays, however, yacon is becoming increasingly important due to its health benefits and unique taste and is grown and consumed in many countries.
