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Kamote cue
Fried caramelised sweet potato
Sweet potato chunks fried in caramelised brown sugar and served on skewers
Kamote cue is merienda sold from roadside woks across the Philippines, and children buy a stick or two on the walk home from school. Chunks of sweet potato are fried with brown sugar, which melts and wraps them in a crackly, shiny caramel crust while the inside goes soft and fluffy. It is a sweet treat, so portions are small. None of the common allergens are in it. Chef's tip: add the sugar only once the oil is hot and let it float and melt on the surface before stirring; stirring too early clumps it.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅛ lb sweet potatoespeeled and cut into 3 cm chunks
- 1 cup vegetable oilfor frying
- 2 ⅛ oz brown sugar
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Pat 1 ⅛ lb sweet potatoes completely dry. Soak 8 bamboo skewers in water.
Step 2: Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in a wok over a medium heat to about 350°F, when a piece of potato sizzles steadily. Keep children away from the wok: hot sugar and oil burn badly.
3 minStep 3: Add the potato and fry for 5 minutes, turning, until the edges start to colour.
5 minStep 4: Sprinkle 2 ⅛ oz brown sugar over the surface of the oil. Leave it for a minute until it melts and turns amber, then turn the potato through the caramel so every piece is coated.
2 minStep 5: Keep frying and turning for 3–5 minutes, until a skewer slides easily into the centre and the coating is deep golden. The common mistake is letting the caramel go dark brown: it turns bitter fast, so lift the potato out as soon as it is cooked.
5 minStep 6: Lift out with a slotted spoon onto baking paper, separating the pieces. Cool for 5 minutes until the caramel hardens and is no longer scalding, then thread onto skewers.
5 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 250 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kamote cue take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sweet potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
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