Cozy, nourishing and oh so filling, these lentil stuffed sweet potatoes are seasoned with red curry paste for just a bit of heat to offset the sweetness of the spuds. Makes an incredible special occasion veggie side or a balanced, plant-based comfort food dinner on its own!
I know stuffed sweet potatoes are firmly “ugly delicious” coded but you won’t regret making this healthy comfort food!
I’m not sure there is anything more comforting than a baked sweet potato…it’s the kind of cozy meal that I crave pretty much all the time in the cooler months.
Which is pretty genius, given that sweet potatoes are so incredibly high in vitamin A carotenoids which support our immune system and skin in exactly the season we need it most. It’s kind of like nature planned this, isn’t it?? Maybe this is why us dietitians are always talking about eating with the seasons
But more importantly, let’s talk about how as soon as it’s dark by 5PM I crave comfort food yet I’m not into a major effort. Absolutely rude that I’m expected to cook when my body thinks it’s bedtime ha ha. Which is where these surprisingly easy lentil stuffed sweet potatoes come in!
Yes, it takes a while for the potatoes to bake…but this whole meal is like 20 minutes of hands on time with just a handful of ingredients so you can relax and do other things while the sweet potatoes are roasting. Like put your pyjamas on.
Looking for more low effort, high reward plant-based recipes? Grab a copy of my latest cookbook Plant Magic!
Everything you need to know to make these epic lentil stuffed sweet potatoes
I have to admit I went on a bit of a journey with this recipe. As a recipe developer, sometimes I start with one idea and another one pops up in its place. The original flavour profile I was imagining just wasn’t doing it for me. And then I remembered: red curry paste!
Red curry paste is SO flavourful, you can make a craveable meal without a whole drawer of spices – it’s a move I used for my carrot, lentil + ginger soup – and the little bit of spice really does a nice job of balancing out the sweetness of the spuds. Is it just me or are they getting even sweeter?
Heads Up: there is a BIG difference in flavour with curry paste. My absolute fave is Aroy-D!
Make it your own: If you find orange sweet potatoes too sweet, you could totally substitute yellow or even purple sweet potatoes for a boost of longevity-promoting anthocyanins.
Nutrition Note: be sure to eat the skin for more fiber!Make sure you get the onions very thin so they cook quickly!
Hot Tip: use full fat coconut milk here. It’s essential for flavour!
Do not discount the nutrition in onions. They’re an affordable super food!Be sure to taste your lentil mixture. If it’s flat, add more red curry paste!
These naturally vegan and gluten free stuffed sweet potatoes would be great for a potluck or book club dish. If you want to serve a crowd, I would just slice the spuds in half for eight servings! You could also roast 8 small sweet potatoes instead.
Be sure to pile ’em high! The lentil mixture makes a lot.
Curious about nutrition? In addition to being absolutely jam-packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant compounds, each serving has about 10g of fibre and 12g protein. If you want to boost it as a main dish, just double the lentils…or add veggie ground to the lentil mixture.
More veggie sides with main dish energy:
Vegan Stuffed Peppers with Beyond Meat
Winter Panzanella Salad with Kale and Roasted Squash
Vegan Stuffing with Kale and Pecan
Swiss Chard and White Bean Gratin
Saucy Lentil-Stuffed Zucchini Boats
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Sweet + Spicy Lentil Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Cozy, nourishing and oh so filling, these lentil stuffed sweet potatoes are seasoned with red curry paste for just a bit of heat to offset the sweetness of the spuds. Makes an incredible special occasion veggie side or a balanced, plant-based comfort food dinner on its own!
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword lentils, red curry paste, spinach, Sweet Potato
4medium sweet potatoes2 inches diameter, 6-8 inches long
10 ounce packagefrozen spinachthawed, or fresh chopped field spinach
1tablespoonextra virgin olive oilplus more for spuds
1medium yellow onionsliced into very thin half moons
2tablespoonsred curry paste
1cupcoconut milk
½teaspoonsalt
14ounce canlentilsrinsed and drained, or 1 1/2 cups cooked lentils
vegan butterfor serving
Imperial – Metric
Instructions
Place spinach on the counter to thaw before you prep. Preheat oven to 425℉ (220℃). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Wash sweet potatoes and use a fork to prick them all over. Rub them with a tiny drizzle of oil. Bake for 40-50 minutes until tender.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet, over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Add ¼ cup water and cook for 5 minutes more until onions are fully softened and glossy.
Add red curry paste and coconut milk. Stir for 30 seconds, then add salt, lentils, and spinach. Simmer 10 min until saucy.
Taste and adjust curry paste or salt if needed. Tasting flat? Add a squeeze of lime or a tiny splash of rice vinegar. Turn off heat.
When sweet potatoes are ready, cut open lengthwise, add a bit of butter and top with lentil mixture.
So good for you…but so delicious no one will know! These sweet potatoes are stuffed with creamy red curry lentils + spinach.
The post Sweet + Spicy Lentil Stuffed Sweet Potatoes appeared first on Desiree Nielsen.
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