Sweet potato shoots — known across the Philippines as talbos ng kamote — turn one of the most overlooked greens at the Asian market into a punchy, 20-minute salad. Blanched tender, then tossed with diced tomato, sliced red onion, lime, garlic, chili, and a splash of fish sauce, this is the Filipino side dish that makes plain rice and grilled fish suddenly worth photographing. Just 96 calories and 6g net carbs per serving.
Quick Stats
Why This Sweet Potato Shoots Salad Recipe Works
Low carb load, real flavor: At 6g net carbs and 96 calories per serving, this salad fits comfortably into low-carb and diabetic-friendly eating plans without leaving you with a sad bowl of lettuce. The chili, lime, garlic, and fish sauce do all the heavy lifting on flavor.
Sweet potato shoots are nutrient-dense: The leafy tops of the sweet potato plant deliver vitamin A (624 IU per serving), vitamin C (27mg), potassium, and antioxidants that support overall wellness. Greens this nutrient-dense for this few calories are rare.
Steady-energy macros: A balanced 7g of healthy fat from the vegetable oil dressing combined with the low glycemic profile of greens and tomato can help maintain steady energy levels through the afternoon, which is what you want from a midday side dish.
Built for the salad-curious cook: Four steps, 20 minutes, two pieces of equipment. The marinating step does the real work — letting the tomatoes release their juices into the dressing means every bite gets seasoned without you having to fuss with whisking emulsions.
Restaurant Filipino Salad vs. This Homemade Version
| Nutrient (per serving) | Restaurant Ensaladang Talbos | This Recipe | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 220 | 96 | -124 (56%) |
| Net Carbs | 14g | 6g | -8g (57%) |
| Sugar | 9g | 4g | -5g (56%) |
| Sodium | 980mg | 445mg | -535mg (55%) |
| Fat | 16g | 7g | -9g (cleaner fat) |
| Fiber | 2g | 1g | comparable |
The full recipe card is below — ingredients, exact amounts, equipment list, and step-by-step method.
Vibrant Filipino Spicy Sweet Potato Shoots, Tomato, Onion Salad
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the sweet potato shoots for 2-3 minutes until bright green and tender. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process.
- In a small bowl, combine diced tomatoes, sliced red onions, lemon or lime juice, zest, minced garlic, chopped chili pepper, fish sauce, salt, and black pepper. Toss until well combined and let marinate for 5-10 minutes.
- Once the sweet potato shoots have cooled, combine them with the marinated tomato and onion mixture in a large mixing bowl. Toss gently but thoroughly.
- Taste and adjust the salt and seasoning as needed. Drizzle the vegetable oil over the salad and give it one final toss to ensure everything is evenly coated.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Chef Tips for Perfect Sweet Potato Shoots Salad
Blanch correctly, don’t boil: Two to three minutes in salted boiling water is the sweet spot. Less and the shoots are tough and a little bitter; more and they go from crisp-tender to limp. Pull them the moment they turn bright green and the stems flex without snapping.
Ice bath is non-negotiable: The moment the shoots come out of the boiling water, drop them straight into a bowl of ice water. This stops the cooking instantly and locks in the vivid green color — skip this step and you’ll end up with army-green, mushy shoots by the time you’re ready to dress them.
Let the tomato-onion mixture marinate: Five to ten minutes with the lime juice, fish sauce, garlic, and chili gives the tomatoes time to weep their juices into the dressing. This is the difference between a salad that tastes seasoned in every bite and one where the flavor lives only on the surface.
Add the oil last: Drizzle the vegetable oil in only after the salad is fully tossed and seasoned. Adding it earlier coats the leaves and blocks the acidic dressing from penetrating. Last-in oil gives you a glossy finish and brightest flavor.
Taste before salting: Filipino fish sauce (patis) varies widely in saltiness between brands. Mix the salad, taste, then add salt only if needed — many home cooks find the fish sauce alone provides enough.
Serve within the hour: Unlike heartier salads, this one peaks immediately after tossing. The shoots stay perky for about an hour before the acidity starts to wilt them. Make ahead components, but combine just before serving.
Storage and Serving Suggestions
Refrigerator Storage: Once dressed, this salad holds for about 24 hours in an airtight container in the fridge — the shoots will soften as the acidity continues to break them down, but it’s still tasty. For best texture, store the blanched shoots and the marinated tomato mixture separately and combine just before serving.
Freezer Storage: Not recommended. The water content in the shoots and tomato turns the salad into mush on thawing. The blanched-and-shocked shoots themselves can be frozen for up to 2 months if you portion them into zip-top bags with the air pressed out, but freeze them before adding any dressing.
Meal Prep Strategy: Blanch and ice-bath the sweet potato shoots on Sunday and store dry in a paper-towel-lined container for up to 3 days. Mix the dressing (lime, fish sauce, garlic, chili, salt) in a small jar — it holds for 4 to 5 days. Dice tomatoes and slice onion the morning of, then combine everything in under a minute. For more make-ahead ideas, see our cold lunch recipes guide.
Complete the Meal: Traditionally served alongside grilled bangus (milkfish) or crispy pork belly with a small portion of steamed rice. For a lower-carb take, pair with our bok choy recipe, our miso soup, or our mu shu vegetables with bamboo shoots for a full Asian-greens spread. The salad also balances beautifully alongside our Szechuan noodle salad for a two-bowl lunch.
Sweet Potato Shoots Salad FAQs
What are sweet potato shoots, and where do I buy them?
Sweet potato shoots are the tender young leaves and stems of the sweet potato plant, known in the Philippines as talbos ng kamote and in Latin America as camote tops. Look for them in the produce section of Filipino, Vietnamese, and pan-Asian grocery stores, usually sold in bundles. If you grow sweet potatoes in your garden, the trailing vines you’d normally compost are exactly this ingredient.
Is this sweet potato shoots salad keto or just low-carb?
Low-carb, not strict keto. Each serving has 6g net carbs (7g total carbs minus 1g fiber), which puts it just above the 5g keto threshold. It’s an excellent fit for low-carb and diabetic-friendly eating plans and works in a moderate keto approach if you keep the rest of the meal very low in carbs.
Is fish sauce gluten-free?
Most Filipino fish sauces (patis brands like Rufina and Datu Puti) are naturally gluten-free because they’re made only from anchovies and salt. Some Thai and Vietnamese fish sauces add wheat-based ingredients, so check the label if gluten is a concern. For a certified gluten-free option, look for a Red Boat or similar brand that labels its product GF.
Can I make this salad vegetarian or vegan?
Yes — swap the fish sauce for 1 teaspoon of soy sauce or coconut aminos plus a quarter teaspoon of white miso paste. This delivers the same salty-umami depth without any anchovy. The rest of the ingredients are already plant-based.
You Might Also Like
Another tropical greens-and-aromatics salad in the same flavor family — bright, simple, low-carb.
A roundup of low-carb salads with keto-friendly modifications if you want to take the carbs even lower.
A 35-minute Asian vegetable noodle dish that pairs beautifully with this Filipino salad on the side.
A broader roundup of blood-sugar-friendly lunches if you’re building a weekly meal plan around this style of eating.
Final Thoughts
Sweet potato shoots are one of those ingredients you don’t think about until you taste them this way — and then you’ll wonder why you’ve been walking past them at the Asian market for years. The salad takes 20 minutes, costs almost nothing, and delivers a Filipino flavor profile that turns the simplest grilled fish or rice bowl into a proper meal. Grab a bundle next time you spot them and put this in your rotation.
Medical Disclaimer: The nutritional information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, individual responses to foods vary. Always consult with your healthcare provider or registered dietitian about dietary changes.
