Potato

Potato is a starchy root vegetable of Central American origin. This humble tuber is one of the most widely grown root crops, and one of the cheapest staple food ingredients consumed all over the world. Botanically, it belongs to perennial subspecies of Solanum tuberosum, in the Solanaceae family. Potato plant grows about 12 to 18 inches in height and bears many tubers underground. The tubers usually have round to oval to oblong shape but vary widely in size. Internally, its flesh features cream-white, rose red, or russet color depending upon the variety with moist, crunchy texture and once baked, becomes soft and has unique buttery “potato” flavor. The fiber content aids in slow digestion starch and absorption of simple sugars in the gut. It thus helps in keeping blood sugar levels within the normal range and avoid wide fluctuations. For the same reason, the potato considered as a reliable source of carbohydrates even in people with diabetes. The tubers are one of the richest sources of the B-complex group of vitamins such as pyridoxine (vitamin B6), thiamin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and folates.