Whatever you’re whipping up for dinner, sweet potatoes make amazing side dishes — and unlike regular potatoes, they count towards your five a day! Here are some of our favourite ways to eat sweet potatoes when enjoying a family friendly meal:

Sweet potato fries: Of course, this has to be at the top of the list! If you really want to push the boat out, add a few sprigs of rosemary to the dish when you cook them. For restaurant-level food at home, finish with chunky sea salt.

Baked sweet potato: This is a hearty side dish that's perfect in winter. We like it served with a warming chilli sauce or a comforting slice of pie. Want to spice things up? Cut your baked sweet potato in half and dust it with paprika.

Sweet potato mash: If you're looking for comfort food, nothing beats mashed potatoes! Sweet potatoes are robust enough to stand up to strong flavours, like in our lentil shepherd's pie with cheesy sweet potato top recipe. Talk about taking a trip to Flavour Town!

Sweet potato wedges: Homemade sweet potato fries look pretty, but sometimes it's hard to be bothered with all that fancy knife work. Go rustic instead with some wedges. They're just as tasty, and you get more of that sweet, fluffy interior to enjoy.

Roasted sweet potato: Fancy something different with your Sunday roast? It may be blasphemy to traditionalists, but we love a nice roasted sweet potato. Give it a go — you might just surprise yourself with how good it is!

There's no need to keep sweet potatoes to the side of your plate. Make them the main event with these great-tasting sweet potato recipes. Thanks to their great flavour and dense texture, sweet potatoes can really elevate your meat-free Mondays. Next time you're looking for a veggie feast, try these tips:

Sweet potato soup: It's a classic for a reason! Sweet potato can easily be turned into the basis of a creamy, soothing soup that will get you through a wet winter day. We love carrot and sweet potato soup or sweet potato and butternut pumpkin soup. Add some chilli if you like a bit of spice — it does a great job at stopping the soup from being too sweet.

Sweet potato curry: Everyone loves homemade curry! While still keeping their own distinctive flavour, sweet potatoes can stand up to spice really well. Try our Indian-inspired mild sweet potato & coconut curry with brown rice recipe and add some crunchy baby corn for texture. The richness of the coconut and the zing of the chilli will have you coming back for more.

Sweet potato salad: Who says salad has to be boring? Rather than just throwing together a few leafy greens and calling it a day, turn your salad into a showstopper by adding roasted sweet potato chunks. Again, the hearty flavour of sweet potato pairs well with other strong ingredients like goat's cheese or walnuts.

Sweet potato gnocchi: Mashed sweet potato tends to be softer than regular potato, so you'll need to be prepared to make a mess for this one! It's worth it, though. These delicate little morsels will melt in your mouth and are utterly delicious. Try them with fresh pesto or your favourite Italian sauce.