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Camote cue
Camote cue: sweet potato chunks fried in brown sugar until glassy and caramelised, served on bamboo skewers
Camote cue is the three-o'clock merienda of Manila, fried in big woks by vendors on the corners of Quiapo, outside university gates on España Boulevard and along every jeepney route, alongside banana cue. Chunks of sweet potato are fried until tender, then brown sugar is scattered into the hot oil, where it melts and wraps each piece in a glassy, crackly caramel coat. They are threaded onto bamboo sticks and eaten warm, with a soft, sweet, chestnut-like centre. Chef's tip: let the oil cool slightly before adding the sugar; sugar dropped into very hot oil burns and turns bitter in seconds.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ lb sweet potatoes (orange or yellow)peeled and cut into 3 cm chunks
- 2 cups vegetable oilfor frying
- 3 ½ oz soft brown sugar
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Pat 1 ⅓ lb sweet potatoes (orange or yellow) dry with a clean tea towel.
2 minStep 2: Pour 2 cups vegetable oil into a deep, heavy pan so it comes no more than a third of the way up the sides, and heat it to 350°F. Check with a thermometer, or drop in a cube of bread: it should turn golden in about 65 seconds. Never leave the hot oil unattended.
5 minStep 3: Fry the sweet potato for 6–8 minutes, turning, until golden on the outside and a skewer slides into the centre easily.
8 minStep 4: Lower the heat to medium-low and sprinkle 3 ½ oz soft brown sugar over the sweet potato in the oil. Stir gently for 2–3 minutes as the sugar melts and clings, until every piece has a shiny, amber coat. Common mistake: adding the sugar on high heat; it scorches before it coats.
3 minStep 5: Lift the pieces out with a slotted spoon onto a lightly oiled tray, spreading them out so they don't stick together. The coating hardens as it cools, and the caramel is very hot, so wait 2–3 minutes.
2 minStep 6: Thread 3–4 pieces onto each of 8 bamboo skewers and eat warm.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 6 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does camote 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 (orange or yellow)?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of soft brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
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