(Family Features)—Colder, shorter days call for a little comfort. Cozying up with a hearty meal on brisk winter evenings can help fight off the chill while savoring your favorite flavors alongside the ones you love.
Avoid venturing into the cold for a trip to the store by turning to a pantry staple like sweet potatoes. As one of the most versatile veggies, they’re easy to add to a variety of recipes while enhancing both flavor and nutrition. Perfectly suitable for simple and elevated dishes, they can be baked, microwaved, grilled, slow-cooked or prepared on the stove so their sweet taste never goes out of style.
Their long shelf life – up to four weeks if stored properly in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat sources – means you can rely on sweet potatoes throughout the winter as an on-hand ingredient. Additionally, as a “diabetes superfood” according to the American Diabetes Association, they’re rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, all of which are good for overall health and may help prevent disease, making them a key source of nutrients during wintertime.
When your family needs a warm-up on those frosty days, put sweet potatoes at the center of mealtime (with an added kick) in this Jalapeno Sweetpotato Chowder. Loaded with the flavors of winter comfort, it’s a filling meal that makes enough for a crowd so no one goes hungry.
Jalapeno Sweetpotato Chowder
Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission
Servings: 6
- 2 large North Carolina sweet potatoes, baked
- 1 small onion, 1/4-inch diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 quart chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
- 1 1/2 cups whole corn kernels
- 2 teaspoons minced jalapeno
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- chopped scallions, for garnish
Peel baked sweet potatoes; discard skin and puree.
In a soup pot, saute onion in butter until softened. Add pureed sweet potato and stock, as desired. Bring to a boil, reducing the liquid slightly.
Add chicken, corn, jalapenos, heavy cream, and salt. Simmer for 10 minutes.
To serve, ladle into bowls and garnish with chopped scallions.
Visit ncsweetpotatoes.com to find more comforting meal ideas.
