Yams are quite often mistaken for a
SWEET POTATO and the
YAM suffers the same fate. The authentic yam is a tuber of a tropical vine and cannot even consider to be related at all to
the sweet potato. A true yam is hard to locate in an US market although it is gaining in popularity in the US however it is a popular vegetable in Latin American ,Caribbean and Africa
The yam can probably be located in local Asian and African markets. I have never seen them in my very American grocery not to say they maybe in some.
The true yam can be found in varieties totaling approximately 200. The fleshy part includes various colors such as white,ivory,yellow or purple. The thick exterior may be white,pink or brownish black. The yam shape is long and cylindrical often reaching seven feet in length. After cooking the yams,you will find them with a very slippery and starchy appearance. The taste is not that of sweetness but more of a earthy and hardy taste. This description does not evoke visions of the well known yams that appear on your Thanksgiving plate. The very simple answer to the lead in question
"WHEN IS A YAM NOT A YAM OR IS IT A SWEET POTATO when it is an orange-colored sweet potato that has been labeled a yam. This resulted from the growers of this type of sweet potato having the desire to distinguish it from the white-fleshed sweet potato that most people recognized.
This not to say that the yam is not an outstanding vegetable because it is an excellent source of Vitamin B6. The high intake of vitamin B6 has been noted to reduce the the risk of heart disease.If you find the "true" yam it will be likely sold in chunks sealed in plastic wrap.It would be a little unwieldy to handle a seven foot tuber weighing nearly 150 pounds.The yam is also an excellent source of potassium which aids in controlling blood pressure. A storage protein contained in the Yam known as dioscorin may also benefit those who suffer from hypertension.
"True" yams can usually be substituted in any sweet potato recipe. However a word of caution show be noted here the "true" yam cannot be consumed in a raw state without toxic results. This is not true of a sweet potato. Yams should be kept in a cool dark and well-ventilated spot for up to ten days. They should be kept loose and not in the sealed plastic bag in which they were purchased. Please donot store uncooked yams in your refrigerator.
Now is the time to enjoy something different using "true" yams. You can puree the cooked yam add a little milk and season with tamari,coriander,cumin and cayenne for a delicious taste. Because
of the yam's earthy and deep taste you can pair it up with darker meats like venison. It would good in your next stir fry by adding chunks of yams along with fennel,onions,and mushrooms it really makes a very delicious combo. Ask your local grocer where to find "true" yams this will also test your local grocer in his knowledge of produce.
