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    Ratalu / रताळू / Sweet Potato / Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

    Local Name: Ratalu / रताळू

    Common Name: Sweet Potato

    Botanical Name: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.

    Status & Habitat

    • Habitat: Climber

    • Occurrence: Highly adaptable to different soil conditions and climates.

    • Season of Availability: Year-round

    • Geography: Central and South America

    • Method of Propagation: Vegetative propagation

    • Part used for Propagation: Tuber

    Edible Parts

    • Edible Parts: Tuber

    • Can be Eaten Raw: No

    Method of Consumption

    • Raw: No

    • Ripe: N/A

    • Both Raw & Ripe: N/A

    • Dangerous Form to Consume: Raw tuber

    • As Food: Tubers are boiled and cooked as a vegetable

    • As Medicine: Helps to recover from physical weakness, Reduces appetite and food intake which helps with weight loss; helps with digestion problems.

    • Cooking Method: Can be eaten boiled, baked, steamed, roasted or fried. Eg: can be boiled then mashed, or fried into fries.

    • Preservation / Curing Technique: Freezing

    • Does Require Another Plants to be cooked together: No

    • Souring Agents Required: N/A


    Nutritional & Medicinal Benefits

    • Nutritional Benefit: Rich in carbohydrates and fiber.

    • Medicinal Benefit: Energy giving, Weakness recovery

    Tribal Wisdom

    • Tribal Wisdom: Reduces appetite and food intake which helps with weight loss; helps with digestion problems.

    Recipes

    • Tribal Recipe: Ratalyacha Kees: scrub and wash the sweet potato, then peel and grate it. Heat ghee or oil in a deep pan, add cumin seeds and finely chopped green chillies. Mix in the grated sweet potato and sauté. Add salt and sugar, cover the pan, and cook for 5 minutes. After that, add roasted peanut powder and continue cooking for 15-20 minutes until the grated potato becomes tender and transparent. Stir occasionally during cooking.