Part of the veggie’s growing hype can, of course, be attributed to its deep purple tone, a color we don’t often see in foods, let alone healthy ones (sorry, purple Nerds) — it’s the same reason we all went nuts a few years ago for anything made with highly photogenic butterfly pea flower. But it’s not all appearances: Veganuary emphasizes the starch’s rich vitamin and mineral content and other health-related properties. Studies have demonstrated links between the purple tuber and lowered blood pressure, reduced inflammatory markers, and possibly inhibited growth of colon and bladder cancers.
From a culinary standpoint, purple sweet potatoes are highly versatile, so expect to see them in any dish generally made with regular orange sweet potatoes, from basic baked or mashed potatoes to pies and tarts. But don’t take it from us — your favorite food influencers will probably be posting their own recipes soon enough.