Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes With Vegan Artichoke Cream Sauce

Yields: 2 people

Ingredients: 

  • 3 medium-sized sweet potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon virgin organic coconut oil
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups small sweet red peppers (or 1 large red pepper)
  • handful of kale
  • 1 can of organic coconut milk
  • salt and pepper
  • black radish for garnish (optional)
  • Artichoke Cream Sauce
    • 1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts
    • 1/3 cup coconut milk
    • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
    • bunch of cilantro
    • 1 garlic clove
    • juice of half lemon
    • water to thin out if needed

Directions: 

  1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
  2. Cut sweet potatoes in half, rub with coconut oil, place on baking sheet facing down, then bake until soft when pierced with fork (approximately 35 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes).
  3. In the meantime, mince garlic, chop onion, then add to pan with olive oil, and sauté for 5 minutes on low-medium heat.
  4. Chop peppers finely and add to pan, sauté for another 8-10 min or until peppers are slightly soft.
  5. Chop kale and add to pan for the last 2 min of cooking.
  6. Take out potatoes from oven and let cool slightly.
  7. Once cool enough to handle, scoop out potato flesh and place in large mixing bowl.  Make sure to leave about 1/4 inch of flesh around the skins.
  8. Mash potatoes and add ⅓ cup coconut milk and stir well. Add salt and pepper and the sautéed veggies from the pan.
  9. Scoop mixture back into potato skins and bake for another 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees.
  10. To make the sauce, combine all ingredients in food processor and process until smooth (small chunks of artichoke will remain, this is fine).
  11. Pour over potatoes and enjoy!

Notes:

These twice baked sweet potatoes are a healthy alternative to those buttery mashed potatoes and are incredibly filling. This recipe is a perfect side dish and is vegan, gluten-free and full of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. High in beta carotene, vitamin A, and fiber, these wonderful veggies can actually help in controlling blood sugar.

The sweet potatoes are baked until soft, then combined with garlic, onion, sweet red peppers, kale and coconut milk and baked again! The tangy artichoke cilantro cream sauce and zesty radish is added for a nice finish.