Every once in a while I have a good idea. The other night was one of those times. I was making my Spiralized Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Lime Dipping Sauce and I thought “I wonder if I could make these spirals into sweet potato ‘rice’?” Yeah…food bloggers think about things like that. Five minutes later I found out the answer is yes, and that there are two ways to do it! So let’s get to it: How to Make Sweet Potato Rice!
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Sweet Potato Rice: The Other Grain Free Rice
I assume by now most of you have seen or at least heard of cauliflower ‘rice’. It’s a life saver for those that try to avoid grains or just want to amp up the use of veggies in their diet. I happen to love it, and use it often (see here, here and here). But what I love about this sweet potato rice is that it feels more like real rice! And the color is so appealing, Making Mexican food? Use this as a rice substitute. Have extra? Cook it up in a pan with eggs the next morning! It tastes great alone or served with beef or chicken. You can even use it inside a taco!
How to Make It:
We start with spiralized sweet potatoes: in a perfect world everyone would live near a store that sells prepared spiralized sweet potatoes. But if your local store doesn’t carry them, don’t worry, you can make your own. You can use an affordable hand crank spiralizer, BUT I am going to lay some truth on you, the plastic spiralizer is great for softer foods like zucchini and white potatoes, but not so much for sweet potatoes. So if you think you may want to spiralize frequently (and I highly recommend you do!) you may wish to invest in the attachment for the Kitchen Aid mixer. It’s much sturdier than plastic and can handle hard veggies like sweet potatoes easily. Plus, you can walk away while the machine does the work!
After Spiralizing the Sweet Potatoes You Have Two Options…
…the easiest option is popping them in your food processor for literally 5 seconds.
The second option is super easy too. Just chop up those orange spirals with a good knife. It takes 2-3 minutes. So either way, it works perfectly!
Make Ahead Of Time!
The great thing about sweet potato rice is, you can make it ahead of time! Just “rice” it, place in a covered container, and pull out of the fridge when you are ready too cook. It keeps well for 5-6 days. To cook, just add olive oil, butter or ghee to a hot pan and cook until slightly crispy. Season with salt and pepper and voila! A delicious side dish in minutes. Be sure to check back next week because I have a Mexican Sweet Potato Rice with Pulled Pork coming your way!
How To Use It:
You can use this sweet potato rice as a side dish for Paleo/Whole 30 Mexican Food or on this amazing Pulled Pork Dish!
The Recipe: How to make Sweet Potato Rice! Paleo-Whole 30
Tips and what you need: if you have a store in your area that sells pre-spiralized sweet potatoes, you can use those and save time. If not make your own with the attachment for the Kitchen Aid mixer.You can use a food processor or a a good knife to make the spirals into “rice”.
Easy rice substitute made with sweet potatoes
- 6 cups spiralized sweet potatoes about 3 potatoes see instructions in blog post
- Olive oil butter or ghee
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
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Place spiralized sweet potatoes in a food processor and pulse for five seconds. If using a knife instead of processor, chop spiralized potatoes until they resemble large grains of rice
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Place a large pan on high heat, wait 60 seconds, then add enough olive oil to generously coat bottom of pan
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When oil is hot but not smoking add riced sweet potatoes
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Cook, stirring frequently for 8 minutes or so. Turn heat down if needed. "Rice" should be cooked but a little crispy so it has a 'bite'
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Season to taste with sea salt and pepper, serve!
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This is so genius! You truly blew my mind with this one. Innovator!
Haha! Yes, it’s right up there with the wheel as far as inventions go 🙂 Thanks Daniela!
This sounds like a great way to use sweet potatoes. We make the cauliflower rice and cauliflower mash all the time, but my husband loves sweet potatoes too, so I’m definitely going to give this a try.
Such a fun idea! I think I’d like this even better than cauliflower rice! I could live on sweet potatoes 🙂
I actually do like it better. It has a bit more of a bite!
I’mI’m gasI am totally fascinated by sweet potato rice. we do have a Kitchen Aid mixer but we don’t have that particular attachment. I’ll have to check it out. I’m disappointed by our other spiralizer because it won’t stick to the counter. Giving this recipe a try ASAP.
Yeah the plastic ones are pretty flimsy 🙁
Genius! I have yet to see sweet potato rice — you’re a trend setter! 😉 I love cauli rice but now can’t wait to try this.
Too funny! I broke my spiralizer on sweet potatoes! I discovered sweet potato rice after cauliflower rice, and I have to say: I just love it! The sweetness pairs so well with smoky cumin and chipotle flavors in Mexican dishes. I haven’t replaced my poor spiralizer yet, so I’ll have to give this Kitchen Aid mixer attachment a serious look!
You will love it. The plastic just doesn’t cut it when it come to sweet potatoes!
Pssshhhh… genius. Can’t wait to try this!
Me and Einstein man…
SO cool!! I bet some chimchurri mixed in, or a chipotle puree would be awesome too!!
Such a great idea! I’ve never tried this but I need to. I love sweet potatoes in all forms!
Yup! More recipes to follow 🙂
This is just total genius Linda. I love using sweet potato as the base to just about any meal and this is a funky new form!
Ummm, yeah, so best. discovery. ever. Such a great departure from cauli-rice!
SUCH a good idea!! YES. 🙂 I wish I could reach a fork right into the screen to eat them. Can’t wait to make your recipe!
I have had them three times this week lol. Might be time to cut back:)
This is an awesome new thing! I have done the sweet potato noodles, but NEVER have thought to rice it. I am def trying this. Thanks!
Thanks Katie! It’s a great way to change things up!
I love sweet potatoes and want to go and make this right now! I’m really tempted to get that KitchenAid spiralizer.
It’s totally worth it!
I love anything sweet potato, so sign me up! This would also be awesome for meal prepping to have a big batch ready to go!
Yes you can definitely make the rice in advance and cook when needed!
I love this idea! and I know what you mean, about always thinking of new things to do with food, especially veggies.
Always!
I’m in love with cauliflower and broccoli rice but I haven’t tried doing it with sweet potatoes. What a great idea and I’ll bet they have awesome flavor
They do, and great texture too!
I have a sturdy spiralizer but have never tried sweet potatoes.. May need to check out attachment …
This looks so good on every level. Love the idea of being able to cook to a bit crispy too — and addition of my herb pastes? yum?
Sweet potatoes are a staple in our house! I love how quick your sweet potato rice cooks up… perfect for a weeknight meal. Can not wait to try – thank you!