Japanese sweet potato chips are the perfect blend of sweet and savory! They are super easy to whip up and make an amazing side dish.
Sometimes the most simple of recipes is everyone’s favorite. You can’t get much simpler than these Japanese sweet potato chips. Rather than laboring over a pot of hot oil or giving all your might to mashed potatoes, these chips take 5 minutes to prepare. That’s it! Not to mention, they are oil-free and low-fat. A win-win!
What is special about Japanese Sweet Potatoes?
If you haven’t had a Japanese sweet potato before, then you are in for a treat! It might sound crazy but when you get a good one, they seriously taste like cake. Unlike regular orange sweet potatoes, Japanese sweet potatoes (also called Murasakis or Satsumaimo) have a reddish purple skin and bright yellow flesh. While orange sweet potatoes are sweet, the Japanese variety is much starchier, sweeter, and better for roasting, steaming, and using in all your favorite recipes.
Where to buy Japanese Sweet Potatoes?
I hopefully convinced you to try a Japanese sweet potato, but now you might be thinking where can I buy them? Luckily for those in the US, there are many places to buy these cakey sweet potatoes. The easiest places to pick them up are Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and oftentimes your local organic or Indian grocery stores.
But if you live in a city that doesn’t have many grocery store options, then try checking out your local farmers market. In the photo above, I picked up a bunch at the North Carolina farmers market. These tasty potatoes have definitely gotten popular over the years, so they are THANKFULLY becoming a lot more accessible. If all else fails, you can order them online from places like Melissa’s Produce or Fresh Direct.
Making Japanese Sweet Potato Chips
Since these are considered healthy chips, there is no frying needed. Rather than using tons of oil, these sweet potato chips are healthfully made in the oven and can even be made oil-free! Now you can’t get healthier than that. To make the chips, it is very simple.
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Then you need to wash your Japanese sweet potato and give it a good scrub. I use this potato brush to make sure I get all the dirt off the skin. Then cut the ends of the potato.
Once clean, using a sharp knife or mandelon, slice the potato into 1/4-inch rounds. The thickness is up to you. Personally, I like a thicker slice but for a more crispy crunch, the thinner the slice the better.
Once you have your potatoes cut, evenly line them on a lined baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicon mat. You do not want your potatoes to overlap one another or touch. Giving the potatoes space allows for the chips to get crispy. Then lightly spray with olive oil or cooking spray. You can skip this step if you are oil-free. Then lightly salt and pop in the oven.
Bake for 15 minutes, then take them out of the oven and flip to the other side. Bake for another 15 minutes or until golden brown. Alternatively, you could cook them in the air-fryer. This might be a little more tedious depending on the size of the air-fryer because you don’t want the potatoes to overlap too much.
After they finish cooking, allow them to cool for 5 minutes before enjoying. These chips go great with veggie burgers, Buddha bowls, potato nachos, or even as a healthy snack!
Japanese Sweet Potato Chips
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 2 Japanese Sweet Potatoes medium
- Cooking spray
- Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Then line a baking sheet with either parchment paper or a silicon baking mat.
- Using a sharp knife or mandolin, slice potatoes into 1/4-inch rounds. Make sure to throw out the ends of the potato.
- Evenly lay the sweet potato rounds on the baking sheet. Make sure they are not overlapping. Then lightly spray the potatoes with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt.
- Bake for 15 minutes on one side. Then flip the potatoes and bake for another 15 minutes until golden brown. Once baked, allow the chips to cool for five minutes before enjoying.
