How to Grill Whole Murasaki Sweet Potatoes Outdoors
How to bake or roast whole Murasaki sweet potatoes over an open fire on an outdoor Weber grill. Throw these on the grill during a backyard BBQ or while camping. Nutty, mildly sweet and creamy, these sweet potatoes are absolutely delicious!
Wash sweet potatoes and cut out any bad spots. Trim ends off the sweet potatoes. Poke 3-4 holes in each sweet potato/yam with a knife or fork, so the steam can vent.
3 pounds murasaki sweet potatoes
Cut squares of aluminum foil and parchment paper that are big enough to wrap each potato individually. If you want, you can use just aluminum foil, but I like to line the foil with parchment paper so my food isn't in direct contact with the aluminum.
On a flat surface, put down one sheet of foil and then place a sheet of parchment paper on top. Then, place one potato on the parchment paper. Roll up the potato in the parchment-lined foil and completely wrap it up so the potato is not showing. Set aside on a tray to take outside. Continue until all the sweet potatoes are wrapped individually.
Grilling the sweet potatoes
Place 1-2 pieces of wood in the center of your grill. Then, light your charcoal using a charcoal chimney and then carefully place your hot coals on each side of your wood. This placement method will help your fire burn longer.
You want a low fire around 400°F, that stays below the grill grate most of the time. The sweet potatoes need to cook almost an hour, so we don't want to burn them with a fire that's too big or directly on them. Place lid on the grill, with the vent partially closed to slow down the fire, if it's too big.
Bake the foil-wrapped sweet potatoes on the grill for 45-60 minutes, flipping them every 15 minutes and moving them around, if one side of your grill is hotter than the other. If your sweet potatoes are really big, they may need longer. They are done when you poke them with a fork and it goes in really easily. Also check them by removing a sweet potato from the grill, then gently squeezing the sweet potato while wearing oven mitts. If it's squishy, then it's done.
When they are done, remove them from the grill and allow to cool slightly before eating. Sprinkle with salt, if desired. Allow the potatoes to cool before storing in the refrigerator. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.