Sweet Potato – Ipomea batatas
Sweet potato is a vigorous ground cover vine which produces tubers at the leaf nodes. It prefers sandy, well – drained soil in sun or part-shade in the tropics or sub-tropics. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers, as they will promote leaf rather than tuber growth. Sweet potato is propagated by cuttings planted directly into the ground. Sweet potato flesh and skin colour varies from white to red
to orange depending on the variety.
Sweet Potatoes contain starches, complex carbohydrates, fiber, beta carotene and vitamins B and C.
Sweet potatoes can be cooked in most ways that potatoes are – sliced and fried like chips, boiled, mashed or baked. The young growing tips can be stir fried or steamed as greens.
Tandoori Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
Tandoori Chickpeas
3 cups cooked chickpeas
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp sweet paprika
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
Sweet potatoes
4 medium sized sweet potatoes (preferably the same size and shape for even cooking time)
1 Tbs tahini
¼ cup unsweetened plant – based milk (e.g. soy, rice, almond)
½ tsp cumin
½ tsp ginger powder
¼ tsp salt
2 cups washed and chopped leafy greens (e.g. silverbeet, spinach, kale)
Optional: chopped coriander, for serving
Tahini lime sauce
⅓ cup tahini
¼ cup water
2 tablespoons lime juice
½ teaspoon salt
1 small clove of garlic, peeled and crushed
1 teaspoon maple syrup
Method
1. Preheat oven to 190°C
2. Clean the sweet potatoes and prick a few times with a fork.
3. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper, place the sweet potatoes on one tray and put it in the oven. Roast sweet potatoes.
4. Toss all the ‘tandoori chickpea’ ingredients together in a bowl until the spices are well dispersed. Place them on the second baking tray and put it in the oven. Cook for 45 mins, or until tender to prick with a fork.
5. Roast chickpeas for 30-35 mins, stirring half way through.
6. Meanwhile, whisk together all ingredients for the tahini lime sauce in a small bowl. Then bring a small saucepan of water to boil and gently steam or boil leafy greens and drain.
7. Once the sweet potatoes have cooled slightly, cut them in half (lengthwise), and gently scoop out the flesh, being careful not to pierce the skin.
8. Transfer sweet potato flesh to a large bowl and mash with the ‘sweet potato’ ingredients, then stir through the leafy greens.
9. Transfer the sweet potato skins to a plate. Scoop the mashed potato mixture back into the skins. Top with the roasted chickpeas. Drizzle with tahini sauce and sprinkle with chopped coriander if desired.
Sweet Potato Pudding
From NSCF Share Cookbook, Page 57
Ingredients
6 medium sized sweet potatoes
900 ml coconut milk
4 Tbs sugar
Method
Peel and dice sweet potatoes.
Heat coconut milk and stir in the sugar until it dissolves.
Add diced sweet potato and bring to the boil, stirring regularly.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes until the sweet potato is tender.
Serve either warm or chilled.
Note: Leave out the sugar to make a side dish for curry.
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