Helen ModernPepper
- May 24, 2018
- 4 min read

Korean Snack: Roasted Sweet Potato Snack (GoGuMa 고구마) & A La Mode Dessert [SWEET POTATO HACKS]

Updated: Nov 7, 2019

Korean sweet potato (steamed or roasted) is an Old-School Korean snack that has been enjoyed for many years, long before manufactured packaged snacks were introduced. I grew up eating these sweet potatoes as snacks. No, these are not just enjoyed by children! Grown-ups, too, have been enjoying these sweet potatoes as afternoon snacks and also as a stable snack in satisfying those late evening hunger attacks. I remember how the roasted sweet potatoes were "winter treats" when the neighborhood ahjucee (male adult) would roll around a huge man-made charcoal oven and literally perfuming the neighborhood streets with the sweet roasting aroma of these sweet potatoes. I still have fond memories of my uncle treating me to a bag full of roasted sweet potatoes. I would be smiling ear to ear with my brown paper bag full of these potatoes and just patiently waiting for them to cool down, like a child waiting to open up her birthday present. Gosh, life was so simple and special back then as a child, just simply enjoying the yummy pleasures of a delicious snack...:-)

I hope you try these Korean sweet potatoes. This video recipe covers 4 ways of enjoying these sweet potatoes. So please do check out the video below!

Below you will find the following:

Amazon.com links for kitchen gadgets

Recipe Instructions (w suggested video recipe to watch: How To Ferment & Store Your Store-Bought Kimchi)

4 Ways Of Enjoying Korean Sweet Potatoes

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Helen

RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS

- These Korean sweet potatoes are available at Korean markets (even small mom and pop Korean markets will carry them). At non-Korean markets, these sweet potatoes are often labeled as Japanese yam. Any big supermarket with a wide selection of produce will usually carry them.

- Wash the skin under running water. Dry with a towel. Cut the tips of the potatoes off (as shown in the video).

- For Oven Roasting: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake them for 60 minutes. These potatoes come in varying sizes. If the potatoes are significantly smaller in size compared to the ones shown in the video, reduce your baking time to 10 - 15 minutes less. If the potatoes are significantly wider/fatter than the ones shown in the video, increase your baking time to 10 - 15 minutes longer. TIP: You can always use a chopstick to poke the middle (widest part) of the potato. If the chopstick goes through, then the potatoes are ready. Once you pull them out of the oven, let it rest for 5 - 10 minutes before consuming.

- For Stove Top Steaming: Place the potatoes on a steam rack. Make sure to have a sufficient amount of water. The water amount depends on how wide your pot is, but I would recommend approximately 2 inches of water, leaving room between the water and the strainer. Make sure to close the lid on the pot and leave the stove heat to high for 20-25 minutes. Again, just as mentioned above, increase or decrease your steaming time according to the sizes of the potatoes. TIP: You can always use a chopstick to poke the middle (widest part) of the potato. If the chopstick goes through, then the potatoes are ready. Once you pull them out of the steamer, let it rest for 5 - 10 minutes before consuming.

4 Ways Of Enjoying Korean Sweet Potatoes

1. Once the potatoes have rested for 5-10 minutes, just break it half, peel the skin off and just enjoy! Some of my kids prefer to add a little bit of butter to each bite. Traditionally, these are enjoyed as is, without butter, salt or any condiments. These are finger snacks so no need for utensils and such.

2. The other traditional way of enjoying these potatoes are with kimchi, adding a piece of kimchi on the potato before taking each bite. It has to be perfectly fermented kimchi (not too new or too fermented) so the sweetness of the perfectly ripe kimchi adds another layer of flavor in your mouth, combined with the creamy and buttery taste of the sweet potatoes.

If you haven't watched my video on "How To Ferment & Store Your Store-Bought Kimchi," please do check it out below.

3. You can slice these sweet potatoes RAW and enjoy them with hummus. The raw potatoes have a nice sweet taste (not sugary) and crunchy enough to be a substitute to pita chips.

4. Roasted Sweet Potato A La Mode...YUM! Cut the roasted potatoes into quarters (as shown in the video) or halves if you prefer. Add some butter to the flesh part of the potatoes and place on a preheated non-stick frying pan on medium-high heat. Let the flesh toast until golden brown (1-2 minutes on the frying pan). Served with a scoop or two of your favorite ice cream. This is far less in calories than your typical pie a la mode! And you can still satisfy that sweet and creamy carb craving.

Amazon.com Links To My Favorite Non-Stick Frying Pans

Tramontina Professional Aluminum Nonstick Restaurant Fry Pan, 14"

https://amzn.to/2NUPKKz

All-Clad 7112NSR2 MC2 Professional Master Chef 2 Stainless Steel Bi-Ply Bonded Oven Safe PFOA Free Nonstick Fry Pan Cookware, 12-Inch, Silver

https://amzn.to/2DjEVgQ

Wusthof Classic 8-Inch Chef's Knife

https://amzn.to/2DtFEwi

Wüsthof Twelve Piece Block Set

https://amzn.to/2OGYJvT

Wusthof Classic 7-piece Slim Knife Block Set

https://amzn.to/2Q03tx9

John Boos Maple Wood End Grain Reversible Butcher Block Cutting Board, 20"x 15"