Daigaku Imo Recipe

Also known as Candied Sweet Potato, Daigaku Imo (大学芋) are an inexpensive and tasty dessert.

Daigaku Imo, as you might have guessed from the name, has always been popular with Uni students, whether they are selling them to help raise money or just enjoying this cheap snack on a meagre student budget. But just because they are cheap doesn't mean they aren't delicious.

You will need;

• 200g of whatever sweet potato you can get. Japanese Satsuma imo would be best, but this should work with any substitute. 
• vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp roasted black sesame seeds

Honey Syrup

• 40g honey
• 1 tbsp water
• 1/8 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Cut your sweet potatoes into bite-size pieces, then place them in a bowl filled with cold water. Leave them for 10-15 minutes, then dry them.
2. Heat oil in a saucepan, then deep-fry your sweet potato pieces for 5 minutes. The potatoes should be cooked through by then. Remove the sweet potato chunks and let them cool for 10 minutes.
3. Fry the sweet potatoes again until golden brown. This should only take about 30 seconds.
4. Remove the potatoes from the oil and get your sauce ingredients together.
5. Add the Honey salt and water together in another saucepan. Make sure there is room to add the sweet potato pieces.
6. Bring the sauce to a boil over a low heat. 
7. Put the potatoes into the saucepan with the honey and mix, ensuring that every potato piece is coated.
8. Lastly, Sprinkle your potatoes with the black sesame seeds and serve.

If honey isn't your thing, you can make an alternative sugary syrup to coat the potatoes. 

• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp mirin
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1½ tbsp water

Sugar Syrup

1. Mix together all of the ingredients in your saucepan.
2. Bring it to a boil, then simmer for two minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add you potatoes

Daigaku Imo (大学芋) can be enjoyed fresh and warm, or cold. They can go a bit hard (a bit like a toffee apple) after being in the fridge for a couple of days, so watch your teeth.