Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Inspired by Vegan Planet, by Robin Robertson (Harvard Common Press, 2003).

Simple Solution

We like to call these Halloween Enchiladas, because the filling is orange and black! And what an inspired idea it is to combine sweet potato and black beans: you get great nutrition without animal products.

This creative, zesty enchilada casserole is simply bursting with flavor: try making a batch for your own little ghoulies and ghosties! Using canned beans and store-bought salsa makes it a quick and easy supper to make.

  INGREDIENTS

  2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

  1 tablespoon olive oil

  1 large garlic clove, minced

  1 small chile, seeded and minced

  One 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

  One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained

  1 tablespoon chili powder

  salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

  2 cups salsa

  8 large flour tortillas

  1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

  1. Preheat oven to 400F. Put the sweet potatoes on a lightly oiled baking sheet in a single layer and roast for 20 minutes, turning once, until they're tender. Remove from oven and set aside.

  2. Turn oven down to 350F. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and chile and cook about 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Add beans, tomatoes, chili powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Add cooked sweet potatoes and simmer mixture 5 minutes. Set aside.

  3. Spread a thin layer of salsa on the bottom of a lightly oiled 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set aside.

  4. Place a tortilla on a flat work surface, spoon a portion of the sweet potato mixture down the center of it and roll it up. Place the filled enchilada in the baking dish with the seam side down. Repeat with remaining tortillas and sweet potato mixture. If there's any filling left over, spoon it on top of the enchiladas, then top with remaining salsa and sprinkle with red onion.

  5. Cover and bake until casserole is hot and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.