Recipe for Chinese dried sweet potato candy?

[RachelShulman]

When I used to live in Santa Barbara, there was a Chinese woman at one of the farmers markets who sold specialty roots. Although she didn't sell a great diversity of produce, she was my go-to source for high-quality ginger and garlic. But the item that really kept me coming back to her small, card-table-sized stand week after week was her home-made sweet-potato "candy."

These dried sweet potato slices were delicious and totally addictive. The dried sweet potato had a wonderfully toothsome and chewy texture similar to dried papaya spears - and had almost just as high sugar content.

Does anyone have any idea of how I would go about making dried sweet potato candy at home? I grew a lot of sweet potatoes last season and just recently tried to dehydrate some thin slices. Unfortunately they came out more like dog-treats and less like a delicious snack for people. Help!

[HillJ]

http://www.maangchi.com/recipe/matang
I've had both of these recipes. Delish!

[lilgi]

HillJ, isn't it more like sweetened dehydrated fruit? I had pictured something more like this:
http://www.21food.com/products/dried--sweet-potato,-snack-450862.html
or maybe even something more like this
http://www.21food.com/products/dried-...

[HillJ]

hi lilgi, yes-dried fruit is packaged and sold like that in Asian markets. But I have found it hard to replicate at home...even with a dehydrator.

[lilgi]

"I see" says the blind man, I wouldn't mind making these at home myself if I knew how.

[HillJ]

lilgi, this is my go to version for Sweet Potato Candy

Ingredients:
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
pinch sea salt
.33 cup walnuts
¼ cup Coconut flake
5 dates, softened in 1/3C water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon coconut butter, artisana brand
1 slice pineapple
¼ cup raw agave
1 sweet potato, peel & slice 1/8 thick
Preparation:
Take the first 5 ingredients and blend together, set aside in a bowl with lid.
Take the next 5 ingredients including the soak water and blend as well, add to dry mixture and stir until they are one. Add peeled and sliced sweet potato to mixture and toss with hands until happy. Let sit at room temp for 5 hours and toss when you think about it. This will get the sweet potato nice and soft. Place on teflex sheets then sprinkle with extra coconut and dehydrate at 105 degrees for 2 1/2hrs, flip and dehydrate for another 1 1/2hrs. Remove from teflex sheets and dehydrate for another 7hrs. Let sit in dehydrator until cool. Store in air tight container. These are incredible warm too!

[lilgi]

I'd love to try this. Thanks so much!

[HillJ]

My pleasure. Let me know how the recipe works for you.

[lilgi]

I need a dehydrator. I may get one just to make this, love the idea of making sweet potato candy.

[HillJ]

Dehydrators are a terrific kitchen tool but you can try low and slow gas oven setting if you want to try a small sample batch first..make sure you like the recipe, unless you have grander plans for a new appliance. I use mine monthly.

[lilgi]

I'd been entertaining the thought of getting one for a while now, but I'll try these first without and let you know how they turn out. I have a few projects lined up but hopefully I can work it out and make them soon. Thanks again!

[Antilope]

I found this with a Google search:

PRODUCTION OF SWEET POTATO CANDY
http://www.ifrpd.ku.ac.th/staff/cc/cc...