Sweet Potatoes: The Unsung Heroes of My Kitchen

When someone asks me what my favorite food is, they are usually surprised by my answer: Sweet potatoes. It sounds random, but since I’ve systematically been reducing the amount of animal products I consume (mainly meat), I’ve become a little more adventurous in the kitchen.

I usually prepare the sweet potatoes in one way and then add different seasonings and toppings for whatever taste I have that night.

Here are some of my favorite dinners to make using sweet potatoes.

Basic Sweet Potato Preparation:

1. Wash one medium to large sweet potato per person.
2. Poke several times with a fork and microwave until fork tender (approximately 5-6 minutes, depending on the size of the potato). You can also bake in the oven (it takes longer, but it’s super yummy) or cut into 1-inch cubes and boil in salted water until fork tender (See below for the recipes where you want to eat the skin, though!).
3. Once cooked through, follow one of the preparations below.

My Take on Tacos

Ingredients

• Cooked sweet potato (keep in the skin), season with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder and cinnamon
• Protein of your choice (grass-fed beef, black beans, or lentils are my favorites)
• Onion, diced
• Bell pepper, diced
• Cheddar/Jack cheeses, shredded
• Sliced avocado seasoned with salt, pepper, and fresh lime juice
• Various taco toppings: Lettuce, tomato, bell peppers, baby spinach, taco sauce, salsa, sour cream, and anything else you like!

1. To a heated pan, add the oil of your choice and the protein of your choice.
2. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder, and cinnamon, and cook through.
3. Add diced peppers and onion and cook with the protein.
4. Place the cooked sweet potato on the plate and load it up like a taco. This is a simple and delicious way to enjoy Taco Tuesday without the taco shell!

The Sweet Potato Quesadilla

Ingredients

• Cooked sweet potato (remove from skin), season with salt and pepper, and dice into ¼ inch cubes or mash
• Protein of your choice (grass-fed beef, chicken, black beans, lentils, for example)
• Cheddar/Jack cheeses, shredded
• ½ Onion, finely diced
• 1 Bell pepper (or equivalent), finely diced
• Avocado/Olive oil (or equivalent)
• Flour or corn tortillas of your choice
• Salt and pepper

1. To a heated pan, add 1 Tbsp avocado/olive oil.
2. Cook your protein and add ¾ of the peppers and onion.
3. Once cooked through, remove the protein/pepper/onion mixture to a separate plate.
4. Wipe out the pan.
5. In the same pan, add 1 Tbsp oil and then one tortilla.
6. Top with the following: Cheese, protein, sweet potato, the remaining diced peppers, and more cheese.
7. Cover with a second tortilla.
8. Cover the pan and cook on low heat until the bottom tortilla is browned and cheese is melted.
9. Flip the quesadilla halfway through cooking time.
10. The quesadilla is ready when both tortillas are golden brown and the cheese is melted.
11. Slice into quarters and enjoy!

“No Meat” Night

 The recipe that started it all!

Ingredients

• Cooked sweet potato (keep in the skin)
• Onion, diced
• Bell pepper, diced
• Fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into thirds
• Walnuts, pecans, or almonds (or a combination)
• Salt and Pepper
• Cinnamon

1. After the sweet potato is mostly cooked, slice it in half longways and score meat into ½ inch cubes, leaving in the skin.
2. Place on a baking sheet, skin side down, add butter or oil of your choice, and season with salt, pepper, and cinnamon.
3. Bake in a 425-degree oven until browned.
4. Add 1 Tbsp oil and 1 cup nuts of your choice in a pan. Toast in the pan until the nuts are fragrant, then remove to a paper towel-covered plate to cool.
5. Wash and cut fresh green beans in half and put aside.
6. Dice onion and bell peppers.
7. Return the pan to heat and add 1 Tbsp oil, diced onion, and peppers. Cook on low-medium heat until the onions are translucent, and the peppers are soft.
8. Add green beans to the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.
9. Remove the sweet potato from the oven and scoop the sweet potato meat out of the skin.
10. Add sweet potato meat to a pan with onions, peppers, and green beans
11. Season with salt, pepper, and more cinnamon if desired.
12. Place sweet potato skin on plates. Divide sweet potato mixture evenly among plates.
13. Top with toasted nuts, and enjoy!

I hope these three recipes will help you have as much fun in the kitchen as I have! I can’t wait to hear what you try!