What can I substitute for sweet potato?
Running low on sweet potato? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.
About sweet potato
Sweet potato is a starchy root vegetable with a naturally sweet, earthy flavour and a moist, dense texture when cooked. It is widely used in both savoury and sweet applications, from soups and curries to pies and baked goods. Its vibrant orange flesh (in the most common varieties) is rich in beta-carotene, and its natural sweetness and moisture contribute significantly to the texture and flavour of dishes.
Best substitute
butternut pumpkin
Butternut pumpkin has a similarly sweet, dense flesh and comparable moisture content, making it an excellent swap in soups, curries, roasts, and baked goods. It may be slightly less sweet and a little drier, so a small addition of maple syrup or honey can help match sweetness in dessert applications.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of sweet potato
soupscurriesroastingbakingmashingNot suitable for: raw salads
Alternative
canned pumpkin purée
Canned pumpkin purée closely matches the texture and moisture of mashed or puréed sweet potato, making it ideal for baked goods, pies, and smooth soups. It has a milder, less sweet flavour, so adding a touch of extra sweetener and warming spices like cinnamon will better replicate sweet potato's character.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of sweet potato purée
bakingpiessoupssmoothiesNot suitable for: roastingchunky dishes
What is sweet potato called in other countries?
| Country | Name |
|---|---|
| Australia | sweet potato (or kumara in some contexts) |
| Canada | sweet potato (also referred to as yam in some regions) |
| New Zealand | kūmara |
| United Kingdom | sweet potato |
| United States | sweet potato (often mislabelled as yam) |
Common names for sweet potato
kumarakūmarayam (colloquial, US)batata