Sweet Potato/Kumera & Black Beans with Cashew Savoury Cream

Sweet potato also known as Kumera is best enjoyed with the skin on as many of the nutrients are actually found in the skin including it’s high fibre content. 

It's loaded with the antioxidant beta-carotene that works its magic as a protector and defender in the body, working for the good of your heart and brain. Beta-carotene also keeps cholesterol from oxidising, which is the process that causes the walls of the arteries to thicken.

This vegetable is also cholesterol and fat free, but that means you will need to eat some good fat with it to be able to absorb the beta-carotene and vitamin E. That means a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, or flaxseed oil, coconut oil or ghee. If you have any avocado this dish is lovely with little chopped avo on top too!

So while the vitamins A,C & E and beta-carotene take effect within you can just smile, relax and enjoy a delicious meal full of all this goodness.

Baked Kumera/Sweet Potato  (one per person) 
Bake for approx. 1 ¼ hours at 180 degrees.

Filling – Amounts will vary based on how many you are cooking for!

Red Onion - chopped
Garlic – crushed or grated
Fresh ginger - grated
Red chilli – finely sliced (amount is per your heat preference)
½ -  1 tsp Ground cumin
Coriander stalks chopped fine
Cauliflower and broccoli florets
Black beans (organic canned are fine if you haven't soaked your own)
Grated carrot
Spinach
Chicken or vegetable stock - you want a small amount to let the ingredients simmer in
Coriander leaves thrown in at the last when it comes off heat and some leaves  to garnish
Fresh Lime juice:  ½ to a whole lime, depending on how many you are cooking for

The filling takes about 15 mins on the stove to cook.

When the sweet potato is half way through baking, start preparing the filling ingredients.
In a fry pan melt a little coconut oil or ghee.
Add in the onion, cauliflower, garlic, ginger and sauté for about 5 mins.
Add in everything else and let it simmer for about 10 mins. 
Adjust chilli or cumin to taste - on occasion I add in turmeric at this time also.
When you have finished cooking there should be a little wetness from the stock in the mixture.  

Putting it together

Remove the baked sweet potato from the oven and put on the plates before splitting down the middle. 

Spoon in the filling and top with some Cashew Savoury Cream. If you are adding avocado now is the time to do that.

For the finishing touches add a sprinkle of nutritional yeast,  fresh coriander leaves, and a splash of extra virgin olive oil or flaxseed oil before adding a good squeeze of lime juice and tucking in to enjoy this amazingly tasteful dish.

It truly is YUM! 

Cashew Savoury Cream

1 cup cashew nuts soaked for about 3 hours
¾ cup water (add more after making if you like a thinner sauce)
¼ medium scallion
1 clove garlic
1 - 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/2 - 1 tsp activated apple cider vinegar
¼ tsp Himalayan or celtic salt

Drain the cashews and then place in a processor or blender with all of the other ingredients and pulse until it is creamy and smooth.

Have a taste to see if you need to adjust anything for your personal preference.  At this stage add more water if you want a thinner consistency before pulsing again (just add extra water at a drizzle as once you make it thinner it is not going back to a thicker consistency again) 

Additional ways to use the Cashew Cream Sauce

Use as a dip or on top of vegetables, chicken or meat.  
Dolloped on a Buddha or poke bowl.  
It works well as a creamy sauce stirred through your favourite pasta.  
I use it with courgette/zucchini spirals or a mung bean and edamame fettuccine.