Imo Kenpi (Sweet crispy potato sticks)

Another Japanese old style sweet snack. Looks similar to french fries? They are quite different.

Imo Kenpi is coated with sugar candy. Sweet, hard and crunchy. We don’t eat it as a side dish of a meal in Japan. Best for the tea time.

Imo Kenpi is originally a local sweet snack in Kochi prefecture. The origin is not clear. There are various theories. Anyway, it became so popular that today you can buy it anywhere in Japan. It is very simple. No additives, just sweet potato, vegetable oil, and sugar. If you can’t buy it in your neighborhood, you can make it yourself easily.

Here’s the simple recipe:

1. Cut a sweet potato (medium size) into sticks, like french fries.
2. As soon as you cut, soak them into water one after another to remove the harshness.
3. Dry them with kitchen paper towels.
4. Spread them on another kitchen paper towel.
5. Cover them with another kitchen paper towel, and dry for more than an hour.
6. Deep fry them in vegetable oil in a frying pan at 350F (180C) until they turn to golden brown (about 10 minutes).
7. Add 3 spoons of sugar, and 2 spoons of water in a separate pot. You can add a trace of salt or cinnamon for flavor, if you like.
8. Boil it down until it turns to caramel color.
9. Add the freshly fried potato (6) in the caramel (8), and mix well.
10. It’s ready!

Don’t cram your mouth with many sticks at one time!

For more details, send us an email at info@syosaku-japan.com.

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Thank you!
Toshi

Japanese sweets series 003:

Imo Kenpi on Syosaku Urushi Glass Charger Plate-L Majestic Green with Gold Leaf, Dishwasher Safe.

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