This Sweet Potato Stir Fry is a classic from my Mom’s South Indian recipe repertoire. Made with just a handful of pantry staples, it tastes delicious and simple to whip up. Sweet Potato Stir Fry is mildly sweet, spicy and aromatic and goes well with just anything. In South Indian Cuisine it is eaten alongside rice, curry, dal, rasam or sambar. But they taste great and can be eaten as such like a snack.
In India, other than fire roasting, sweet potatoes are used to make a curry, cutlets, chaat snack, sambar and stew.
Here I have sliced the sweet potatoes in food processor for convenience you may chop them to bite sized pieces if you want.
This Sweet Potato Stir Fry recipe requires basic spices like mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fresh ginger and garlic that add a flavor. However if you do not have them, you may simply omit.
Ground spices like turmeric, red chili powder/ flakes and garam masala are good enough to flavor this root vegetable. Since I always stock up on fresh curry leaves, I love to throw in a sprig of the leaves for a unique herby flavor.
There is no substitute for curry leaves but dried curry leaves or even fresh mint leaves work here. You can also use any of your favorite herbs, but add them during the last stage instead of adding them to the oil like curry leaves.
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How to Make Sweet Potato Fry (Stepwise Photos)
1. Peel the sweet potatoes. If you have large ones cut them to half lengthwise. Then slice them thin like potato chips. Add them to slightly salted water immediately. This step avoids them from discoloring and burning. Chop onions and ginger.
2. Heat a nonstick pan with oil. Then add mustard & cumin. When they splutter add grated ginger and curry leaves. Fry till the ginger smells good.
3. Add onions, sprinkle salt. Fry till they turn lightly golden. Don’t need to brown them.
4. Drain off the water completely from sweet potatoes and add them to the pan. Sprinkle turmeric.
5. Fry for about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring evenly. Cover and cook on a low flame till they are cooked fully and turn tender. Keep stirring in between.
6. Ensure the sweet potatoes are cooked fully before sprinkling red chili powder, garam masala and little more salt. Adjust spices and salt now.
9. Stir and fry till the masala is blended well. If the sweet potatoes look too dry then you may add little oil at this stage. Do not over fry otherwise the masala gets burnt.
Garnish sweet potato stir fry with coriander leaves. This time we served it with plain rice and tamarind rasam.
Pro Tips
- I have sliced the sweet potatoes like we do for chips. This way they cook quickly and evenly. If you have a processor that can slice then do it. You may also dice to equal sizes and use.
- Keeping the chopped sweet potatoes in water is important. They absorb some moisture and don’t burn while stir frying.
- Ensure you use a large wide pan to prevent them from clumping up.
- I use onions here. You may skip if you don’t prefer. But caramelized onions taste good and add flavor.
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Recipe Card
Sweet Potato Stir Fry
This Indian style spiced sweet potato stir fry is delicious and can be eaten as a snack or serve it in a Indian meal with rice-dal, rasam or sambar.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Prep Time5 minutes minutes
Cook Time25 minutes minutes
Total Time30 minutes minutes
Servings3
AuthorSwasthi
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 2 cups sweet potato sliced (250 to 300 grams)
- 1 onion chopped (refer notes)
- 1 sprig curry leaves or mint leaves/pudina
- ½ teaspoon grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons oil (½ tbsp more if needed to use later)
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon mustard (optional)
- ½ teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon garam masala (adjust to taste)
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
Instructions
How to make Sweet Potato Stir Fry
Wash sweet potatoes, peel the skin and slice them and add to salted water. To make salt water add ¼ tsp salt to 3 cups water. Keep them in water for at least 15 mins.
Add oil to a non stick and heat. Add mustard and cumin.
When they begin to splutter, add grated ginger & curry leaves. Fry until the ginger smells good.
Add the onions and fry until lightly golden. Drain the sweet potato slices and add them to the pan. Sprinkle turmeric.
Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes on a medium heat, stirring often.
Cover and cook on low flame till the sweet potatoes turn soft. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
When the sweet potatoes are cooked fully, sprinkle salt, red chili powder and garam masala.
Fry till the masala smells good and is blended well. You may add little more oil at this stage if the spice powders don't blend well. Do not over fry the sweet potatoes.
Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve sweet potato stir fry with rice and rasam.
Notes
- You may skip the onions but caramelized onions in the dish taste good with amazing flavors.
- Use a wide large pan.
- Dice the sweet potatoes if you are unable to slice them.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
Nutrition Facts
Sweet Potato Stir Fry
Amount Per Serving
Calories 158Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 453mg20%
Potassium 352mg10%
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 12703IU254%
Vitamin C 18mg22%
Calcium 35mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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© Swasthi’s Recipes
This post was first published in December 2014. Updated in 2023 December.
About Swasthi
I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
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