The moniato is a plant is grown for its tuberous root, which is edible and is similar to a potato, hence its English name of sweet potato. It is usually fried or roasted over coals, and is sometimes used as in ingredient in the sweet almond cakes, panallets. It is also eaten on its own, sweetened with sugar and cinnamon, or as an accompaniment to savoury dishes.

In Catalonia moniatos are typically consumed in autumn, especially around All Saints Day, together with chestnuts and panallets, and it is normal to find it on the stalls of the chestnut vendors that crop up all over the city at this time of the year.