yam (purple yam)

this is a separated detailed post juz about purple yam. there are other posts about yams in this blog.

purple yam, as the name suggests, it stands out with its bright attractive purple colour flesh.
other than the flesh colour, purple yam differs in its skin - a real bark-like skin, looks like a segment of tree trunk.
the diameter reaches about 10cm for most pieces
the colour of the flesh would range from pale pink-purple to bright purple. in my experiences, thinner pieces will have a darker flesh colour but the colour may depend on the freshness also.


as with other purple colour vegetables, their colour may lose a bit after cooking because the colour pigments will leach into the water.

they don't have the sweet aroma of their white relative (white yam), but they have the same slimy texture.

 cooked purple yams taste similar to the white yams, the difference is that it has a firmer texture, which I think is similar to that of chestnuts.
that was quite out of my expectations...
according to my experience with white yams, fat ones should be of a higher water content. these large round roots makes me think that they are likely to be like japanese yam, which is less starchy.

purple yams are the most dense among all the varieties I have tried. and therefore it takes the longest to cook.
it has the toughest skin which is not easily removable even after cooked. I would compare that to the skin of avocados.



cooking experiment no.1

raw, diameter compared with my hand

another raw piece, flesh colour is brighter, indicates the fressness

after boiling, water becomes deep purple. the roots remain firm. 

cross section of a cooked piece

skin is hard and thick, not easy to remove even after cooking

cross section with clear fibres visible

the flesh colour varies in different roots. this piece has a more white part towards one side of its skin

biting into the centre showing the texture, white part would be softer. 

a pale purple piece

the end of the root with a funny shape. cut opened to reveal its flesh as well.  

this piece has the darkest colour, a vibrant purple-blue

unfresh piece may appears to be brown or yellow, the oxidation penetrates deep under the skin

another unfresh piece, rotten part grows deep into the centre

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

cooking experiment no.2

this batch is thinner and less fresh...

got one that has snow white flesh, is that a hybid?

what is that white spot in this funny shaped piece?

rotten deep into the centre...

and I think it rots totally, throughout the flesh...

curvy shape, like an old school phone

real bright purple WOW

a piece merely any purple colour, why?

not sure how these black bits are formed, maybe bugs?

looks like a torch

a very straight piece, almost symmetrical 

so beautiful like neon sticks