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Home » Easy Rice Dishes For Dinner

Sweet Potato Rice Recipe

Oct 28, 2023 · Modified: Nov 11, 2023 by Emily · Leave a Comment

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Aromatic, tender, and filling sweet potato rice.

This sweet potato rice recipe offers a delicious blend of fluffy, slightly sticky, short grain rice combined with golden sweet potato chunks.

This recipe is so simple to make, and is the ultimate comfort food to devour all year round.

Sweet potato rice with sesame seeds on top.
Jump to:
  • What kind of sweet potato do I use?
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe
  • Cost To Make
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Tips for Success
  • Substitutions / Variations
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage
  • FAQ
  • What rice is used for what?
  • Helpful Rice Cooking Tips
  • More Mains Recipes
  • Recipe
  • Comments

Sweet potato rice, known as "Satsumaimo Gohan" in Japanese cuisine, is a simple yet delightful dish that combines the earthy flavors of sweet potatoes with the comforting staple of Japanese meals - rice.

This sweet potato rice recipe is something you have to try.

The gentle sweetness of the sweet potatoes in this dish perfectly complements the comforting earthiness of the rice.

The two components come together to create a delicious blend of flavors and textures that capture the essence of Japanese cuisine.

Rice with sweet potatoes is a delightful balance of starch and natural sweetness, making it a wonderful choice for those seeking a satisfying and wholesome meal.

Sweet potato rice is not only a delicious and satisfying side dish but also a practical choice for meal prep.

Its versatility makes it a wonderful accompaniment to various main courses, adding a touch of autumn to your plate.

Rice with sweet potatoes in a bowl.

What kind of sweet potato do I use?

Sweet potatoes come in various types and colors, with some of the most common varieties being the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.

There are also white-fleshed sweet potatoes, which have a milder and less sweet flavor, and purple-fleshed sweet potatoes, which are known for their vibrant color.

Additionally, there are variations like the Japanese sweet potato (Satsumaimo), which has a reddish-purple skin and a creamy white flesh, and the Garnet and Jewel sweet potatoes, both of which are popular for their deep orange flesh and sweet taste.

For this recipe, you could use any kind of sweet potato that is available to you.

It's important to keep in mind that different types of sweet potatoes may have varying levels of sweetness and moisture content, so you may need to make slight adjustments in your recipe to account for these differences.

For example, if you find your rice to be too moist, you may need to cook it for a bit longer.

Sweet potato.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

  • Sweet potato rice is a dish that is easy to make. It is so simple and uses less than 10 ingredients.
  • This sweet potato rice recipe is great for meal prep as it can be made in advance.
  • Serve this recipe for sweet potato rice as a main meal on those busy weeknights, or serve it as a side dish when you are hosting a dinner party or pot luck.
  • Great to serve at special occasions like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
  • This recipe is gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan friendly.

Cost To Make

Estimated cost = $6.15, or $1.53 a serve

Ingredients

Please note that below is a guide for some of the ingredients we used in the recipe. The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.

Ingredients sweet potato rice.

For the Rice

  • Sweet potato
  • Short grain white rice: such as sushi rice, rinsed and drained.
  • Kosher salt or sea salt
  • Sake: Sake is a traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice.
  • Mirin: This is a Japanese sweet rice wine.
  • Water

Sesame Salt

  • Sesame seeds: toasted
  • Kosher salt or sea salt

Instructions

This sweet potato rice recipe serves 4 to 6. The ingredient quantities can easily be adjusted to suit how many serves you need to make.

Step One: Wash the sweet potatoes in room temperature water. Once washed, leave the skin on and cut into cubes about 2 cm (0.75 inches) thick. Soak the sweet potato in cold water until ready to use.

Cut sweet potato on a chopping board with a knife.

Step Two: Place the rinsed and drained rice in a medium sized saucepan. Add the salt, sake, mirin, and water. Mix together. Taste for seasoning. Add more salt if desired.

Step Three: Drain the sweet potatoes and place on top of the rice in an even layer.

Before cooking sweet potato rice in a saucepan.

Step Four: Place saucepan on the stovetop over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce the heat to low and gently stir the rice.

Cover with a lid and cook for a further 20 minutes. Turn off heat, remove from stove, and allow rice to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.

After cooking sweet potato rice in a saucepan.

Step Five: While the rice is resting, combine the toasted sesame seeds and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

Salted kombu in a frying pan.

Step Six: Once rested, fluff the rice. Serve, sprinkled with some sesame salt.

Tips for Success

  • Make sure you rinse and then drain your rice before cooking.
Rice with sweet potatoes.

Substitutions / Variations

  • Teriyaki Sweet Potato Rice: Toss the cooked sweet potatoes in teriyaki sauce.
  • Sauté your choice of mushrooms (shiitake, shimeji, or enoki) and mix them through your sweet potatoes.
  • Add some citrus zest, such as lime or lemon, to the dish for a fresh and zesty twist.

Serving Suggestions

Here are some ways you might like to serve this sweet potato rice recipe:

  • Toss sweet potato rice with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and your choice of protein (tofu, seared ahi tuna, or shredded chicken).
  • With grilled fish, teriyaki salmon, or grilled vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini.
  • Onigirazu: Wrap sweet potato rice in nori sheets with various fillings like avocado, shredded carrots, and a protein source to make onigirazu, a Japanese sandwich-like dish.
  • Turn this sweet potato rice into a rice bowl by using it as a base. Top with sauteed greens, a protein of your choice (such as shrimp, grilled chicken, or tofu), and drizzle with teriyaki sauce.
  • Bento Box: Pack sweet potato rice into a bento box, along with some grilled or teriyaki chicken, steamed vegetables, and pickled radishes.
  • Sushi Rolls: Use sweet potato rice as a filling for sushi rolls along with other ingredients like avocado, cucumber, and nori seaweed.
  • With Asian vegetables like Japanese broccoli gomaae.

Storage

This rice with sweet potatoes can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days.

FAQ

Can you eat rice and sweet potato together?

Yes, rice and sweet potatoes can be enjoyed together in dishes like sweet potato rice or rice bowls for a delicious and satisfying combination.

Why do I need to keep my sweet potatoes in cold water before using it?

Soaking sweet potatoes in cold water helps to prevent browning and maintain their color and texture, particularly when they're peeled and cut.

What goes good with sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes pair well with a variety of ingredients, such as cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar for sweetness, and savory options like garlic, rosemary, and thyme for a more complex flavor profile.

What rice is used for what?

Ever wondered which might be the best rice to use for a dish you're about to make.

Or maybe you're just curious and want to know more about rice in general.

Why not check out our pages on what is basmati rice and what is jasmine rice.

Helpful Rice Cooking Tips

Want to know how to cook rice or just need a little refresher?

Check out how to easily cook basmati rice, sushi rice, and jasmine rice on the stovetop.

Or, why not check out our recipes on how to make basmati rice, jasmine rice, and sushi rice in the Instant Pot.

Sweet potato rice on a white plate.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below! We'd love to hear how it turned out.

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Recipe

Close up image of sweet potato rice.

Sweet Potato Rice Recipe

Emily
Aromatic, tender, and filling sweet potato rice. This sweet potato rice recipe offers a delicious blend of fluffy, slightly sticky, short grain rice combined with golden sweet potato chunks.
PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Resting Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 35 minutes mins
ESTIMATED COST : $6.15, or $1.53 a serve
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 4 serves
Calories 232 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Rice

  • 275 grams (9.70 ounces) sweet potato
  • 1 ½ cups (340 grams, 12 ounces) short grain white rice such as sushi rice, rinsed and drained
  • 1 ½ teaspoon (6 grams, 0.21 ounces) kosher salt or sea salt or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml/grams, 0.53 ounces) sake
  • 1 ½ tablespoon (25 ml/grams, 0.89 ounces) mirin
  • 2 ¼ cups (562 ml/grams, 19.82 ounces) water

Sesame Salt

  • 2 teaspoon (25 grams, 0.89 ounces) sesame seeds black or white, toasted
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt or sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Wash the sweet potatoes in room temperature water. Once washed, leave the skin on and cut into cubes about 2 cm (0.75 inches) thick. Soak the sweet potato in cold water until ready to use.
  • Place the rinsed and drained rice in a medium sized saucepan. Add the salt, sake, mirin, and water. Mix together. Taste for seasoning. Add more salt if desired.
  • Drain the sweet potatoes and place on top of the rice in an even layer.
  • Place saucepan on the stovetop over medium high heat and bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce the heat to low and gently stir the rice.
    Cover with a lid and cook for a further 20 minutes. Turn off heat, remove from stove, and allow rice to rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • While the rice is resting, combine the toasted sesame seeds and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • Once rested, fluff the rice. Serve, sprinkled with some sesame salt.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serveCalories: 232kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 4gFat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 337mgPotassium: 55mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g
Nutrition Disclosure
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it went!

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Author image.

Hi, I'm Emily! There's much more to rice than just cooking it on the stove. It's so versatile and you can create so many beautiful dishes with it. From puddings and desserts to main meals and even finger foods. There is something for everyone!

More about me →

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