I know what you are probably thinking, “Raw sweet potato chips, Heidi? Did your oven break?”
Notice I didn’t say raw sweet potato slices. Although, those are quite tasty too! Allergic to carrots? Cut raw sweet potatoes in the shape of carrot sticks and dunk in your favorite veggie dip, you just might be surprised. 😀
Rest assured my friends, these are definitely chips off the old block. Only they’re better for you because they are not fried in polyunsaturated fats like corn, canola, safflower, soybean or sunflower oil (when these oils are subjected to high heat, they tend to oxidize and become rancid, forming free radicals. You can read more about this on Mercola.com).
Which means you can eat the entire batch yourself and not feel guilty!
Even my husband (who is a salt junkie and therefore a chip connoisseur) liked these chippy chips quite a bit, in fact, he ate the entire bowl!
April in the Raw is an enticing blog event going on over at Real Sustenance. Everyday this month, 29 food bloggers are sharing simple ways you can incorporate more raw foods into your diet. Be sure to read Brittany’s explanation of Why Raw? to learn more about the health benefits of raw foods.
Raw Sweet Potato Chips
2 medium Sweet Potatoes, washed and peeled
2 – 3 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt
1/8 tsp. Chipotle Chile Powder* (see below for more seasoning variations)
- After washing and peeling the sweet potatoes, set your mandoline to the thinnest slicing option. Using the guard, slice the sweet potatoes then place in a medium bowl (I have a Swissmar Borner Mandoline and I love it, it’s fairly inexpensive and super sharp…and YES, use the guard so your nickname doesn’t become nubby)
- Pour oil over potatoes and toss with your hands until all the potato slices are coated in oil.
- Sprinkle potatoes with seasonings, toss again.
- Lay potato slices on the dehydrator screens and set temperature to 105 – 115° F.
- Allow to dehydrate for 12 – 18 hours, or until desired crispness is achieved (the amount of time you will need to dehydrate will also depend on how thick the potato slices are).
- Store in an airtight container.
Seasoning Variations:
- 1 Tbs. Herbes de Provence + 2 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt
- 2 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt + 1 – 2 tsp. Fresh Cracked Pepper
- 1 – 2 tsp. Chinese 5 Spice Powder
- 1 – 2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
In case you missed yesterday’s April in the Raw post, be sure to visit Gluten Free Gigi for some yummy Raw Nut-Free Fudge. Tomorrow, check in with my dear friend Kim for something (amazing, no doubt) over at Cook IT Allergy Free.
What are your ideas for additional sweet potato chip flavor combinations?
Gorgeous!! I want some now … I think I could eat my own bowl, just like GF Dad did. 😉 That top photo is stunning BTW!!!
xo,
Shirley
Thank you Shirley!! You can make them in the oven too. I just found instructions on Yum Universe and they look awesome (my mandoline doesn't slice as paper thin as hers though), check it out: http://www.yumuniverse.com/2009/12/31/raw-sweet-p…
xoxo,
Heidi
YUM! I will have to try these babies in my oven (on the lowest setting, right?). My only hesitation about buying a dehydrator is I don't know if I can wait 12 hours for things. Know what I mean? I want my kale chips in 12 minutes, not two hours. What do you think Heidi? You're new enough to the dehydrator world! Also, do you have a spiralizer? xo
Ooh, that's a good question Maggie! I don't have a dehydrator either and with limited space, have no idea where I would put one. I barely have room to do food prep as it is between the stand mixer, the crock pot, the bread machine, the blender, the electric tea kettle, the toaster, etc. My kitchen didn't seem nearly so small before I started trying to make so much of my stuff from scratch.
Janet,
I totally hear ya on space, the Excalibur is quite large (not something you would want to store away and just pull out when needed).
I attached a link in my response to Maggie that you should check out, the blogger shows how to make them in the oven!
Hugs,
Heidi
Hey Maggie! Yes, you can totally do these in the oven, here's the link to a recipe with oven instructions on Yum Universe: http://www.yumuniverse.com/2009/12/31/raw-sweet-p…
And I totally hear ya on the patience issue…I'm definitely lacking in that area myself! And yes, I am fairly new to the dehydrator world (at least one that I actually look forward to using anyway) and I typically crank the Excalibur up to 125/135 degrees to hurry the process along! 🙂
Yes, I do have a spiralizer…I LOVE that gizmo, I make zucchini/yellow squash "noodles" with it all the time but I need to think of more fun uses for it…got any for me?
xo,
Heidi
Thanks Heidi! I will check out the excalibur. So where did you get your spiralizer?
Thank you. I was wondering how I was going to break-in my new Excalibur. I was thinking crackers or bars but these are a ton easier and easy, my friend, is all that'll be happening around here for a while. You know my dehydrator came with a book and all it says is dehydrate until done. That and a ton of baking recipes. What's up with that? I'm just glad I didn't pay the $25 they want for it on Amazon.
Laurel,
Oh, definitely try these or apple chips (same method only with cinnamon). I tried some pears the other day and they didn't work out as well…although I think Asian Pears would be great.
I'm learning all sorts of fun uses for the dehydrator…my newest is using it to "roast" raw nuts!!
xo,
Heidi
You know two things. One is I bought this dehydrator because I love dried pears and because I wanted to dry the nuts after I sprouted them but I haven't figured out what temp and for how long yet. (Gee Laurel can you say run on sentence?)
Funny about the pears though I thought the problem was that old round dehydrator with the hole in the center. Hah! Oh and its new home is the cleared off top of the dryer so it'll be out of the way in use and out of it.
Oh my. I just found this site and it made my day. My almost one year old is suspected of having food allergies, so he is on a (major-) allergen-free diet. And it's killing me! I loved making his snacks, but now it's just applesauce and carrots. And a kid can only take so much. These will make all of us very happy. Thank you for sharing!
I've made these before and they were YUM! YOu remind me, I need to make more.
Alta,
I've been making your apple chips too (http://tastyeatsathome.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/raw-apple-cinnamon-chips/), yummy! 😀
Heidi these sound awesome! I use sweet potato for the majority of my carbohydrate intake (and as a weight training athlete I sure do eat my carbs) and am always looking for new ways to prep them. I tried chips before, but did something wrong and they came out chewy and gross. Round 2!!
Did you made them in a dehydrator Erin? Depending on the thickness of the slices, you may need to dehydrate longer, but thinner is definitely better. Even though mine were pretty thin, I think they would be even better if I could get the slices paper thin, like these: http://www.yumuniverse.com/2009/12/31/raw-sweet-p…
Email coming to you shortly! 😀
I did use a dehydrator, but I don't have a mandolin. I used the slicer blade in my food processor, maybe that was the problem. I think the husband may flip his lid if I get another food gadget though!
Love this one, Heidi!! I have not taken my dehydrator out in so long. I think I am missing out now! You are on a dehydrator roll, though! Time to go dust mine off! I love sweet potato chips, and making them in the dehydrator is a perfect idea!!!!
I think I'd eat the whole bowl, too! It looks so good, Heidi!
This recipe might just push me over the edge to buy the dehydrator!
Yum! I totally want to try these with cinnamon… it sounds so tasty and it's super healthy, too! 🙂
Ah! Just what I have been wanting to make. I plan on adding a little sweetener, though – not sure what yet. I never thought about dehydrating them. How healthy! Gotta purchase a new dehydrator! Thanks so much for this great recipe!!!
Your turned out SO much better than mine did! I think the trick is the mandolin slicer! Thanks for a great contribution to April in the Raw. This is such a great event!
Heidi … the question of eating Sweet Potatoes in the raw has been nagging me. Every time I go to make sweet potato oven fries I end up nibbling on the oil/salt coated raw bits and pieces. Now I know. I will try the dehydrator next 🙂 As YOU know, snacks right now are real tough to come up with and this one will work perfectly.
xoLexie
Yummy, my boys love crunchy food. I am ordering the dehydrator, and can't wait to try great recipes.
I would be delighted to see a diary free cheese contest for mac and cheese, one the kids will eat. I have tried several recipes for cheese from cashews, but havent' been able to get the taste correct.
My boys love mac and cheese, but can't have cheese. Thanks again!
FOr sharing your ideas. THey are life changing, comfort food, that is good for you.
Love it.
Sweet potatoes, in any form, make me swoon. The spice mixture on these looks especially intriguing. Guess it's time to break down and buy a dehydrator soon. Do you have a good suggestion?
Wow, these are gorgeous and sound so yummy! I'll have to make some. Love the seasonings as well. So far I've been in a kale chip rut- time for sweet potatoes to get in on the action!
-Sea
If I had a dehydrator, I'd dehydrate everything that stood still long enough. I know this about myself, therefore I will have to use the oven method, and not buy a dehydrator. I am not to be trusted with one. 😉
Nicole
Nicole,
You know what's funny? I've already been dreaming up funny new ways to use my dehydrator, I'm thinking that I want to try and dehydrate some mini marshmallows, you know like those they put in boxed cereal? 😀
Stand strong my friend!
Hugs,
Heidi
Heidi,
Loved them so much that I featured them in my Easter roundup on the site yesterday! 🙂
They look YUM!!!
xo,
Gigi
I always love your thoughts and recipes!!- so much so that I have nominated you for the versatile blogger award!
Sara,
Why, thank you!! 😀
Hugs,
Heidi
I bet butternut squash chips would be excellent, too! Thanks for posting this!
Great post!! Going to make these as soon as I get my dehydrator. Just found your blog- you're going on my reader stat
Your turned out SO much better than mine did! Heidi these sound awesome! My only hesitation about buying a dehydrator is I don’t know if I can wait 12 hours for things. I think the husband may flip his lid if I get another food gadget though!
I know that this is an old post but hoping I can get my question answer, if possible. Wondering how long these will last when stored? Thanks so much!