Before we get into the heart of today’s post, I need to whet your appetite. You do not want to miss today’s recipe. It comes from my sister-in-law Cora and is amazing. Appetite whetted? Good.
Way back in the day, I was an International Relations major at Boston University, with a focus on developing countries. When I met the folks at ONE about a year ago, I was super excited to get involved and help support their work, especially since one of their main focuses is world hunger. My food blogging and international relations lives were coming together in a very cool way. The folks at ONE have been amazing to work with, too. Win, win, win!
Today is Sweet Potato Day, a special day coordinated with ONE where a big group of loving, talented bloggers are all writing about sweet potatoes to raise awareness on the issue of hunger. Why the sweet potato, you ask? We are trying to make the sweet potato famous! It is nutritional and hearty and is saving lives in Africa, making it a worthy mascot for the cause! (Click here to read the Sweet Potato Day kick-off post I wrote for the ONE website.)
As part of the big day, I am sharing a keeper of a recipe with you below. It is so so so so good. These Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos come from my culinarily-talented sister-in-law, Cora. The first night she made them, she called me simply to tell me how delicious her dinner was. I knew I would have to make it myself pronto! Each element of this “recipe” is great on its own: the black beans are deliciously sweet, the sweet potatoes are simple and flavorful with a hint of spice, and the slaw is fresh and has bite. When you put them all together, you get something really special.
To support Sweet Potato Day, I hope that you will visit ONE’s website and see how you can get involved. There are two main issues I would love for you to check out. First, the budget. You can learn more on the budget issue and send a letter to your Congressperson on this page. Second, food. ONE has oodles of great info on food and hunger on this page, where you can also sign a petition to encourage world leaders to make hunger and food a top priority. We really can make a difference. I am blessed with abundance and want to do my part to help share the love. I hope you’ll join me!
- Roasted Sweet Potatoes (see recipe below)
- Aunt Kathy's Black Beans (see recipe below)
- Jalapeño Slaw (see recipe below)
- Shredded cheese
- Sour Cream
- Flour tortillas
- Stuff all the good food above into your flour tortillas, eat, and enjoy!
- 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Chili powder
- Oregano
- Cumin
- Spread cubed sweet potatoes on a large baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over sweet potatoes evenly, to coat. Sprinkle sweet potatoes with salt, pepper, chili powder, oregano and cumin. Mix and move sweet potatoes around on the sheet to coat with spices. Roast in a 350 degree F oven while you prepare the beans. Cook until soft then remove from oven, 10-20 minutes.
- 2 (16oz) cans black beans, mostly drained
- ½ cup water
- ⅔ cup olive oil
- ⅛ cup vinegar
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 bay leaves
- 2 T fresh, minced garlic
- 2 tsp salt
- ½ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- ⅓ onion, chopped
- Sauté onions. Combine all ingredients, including sautéed onions, in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 20 minutes.
- ¼ cup lime juice
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ¾ teaspoon kosher or coarse salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
- 1 16-ounce package cabbage and carrot coleslaw
- 1 jalapeño, sliced thin and chopped (add more if you want it hotter)
- Mix all the ingredients except the coleslaw together in a large bowl. Add coleslaw and toss to coat.
Be sure to visit the other blogs taking part in Sweet Potato Day! I have listed them all below. There is a lot of love and deliciousness in these posts. You will be well fed.
Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burritos from This Week for Dinner
Truffle Sweet Potato Frites from Savory Sweet Life
Sweet Potato & Chicken Sausage Stew from Chefdruck
Honey Sweet Potato Biscuits from Food for My Family
Sweet Potato Burgers from Cutie Booty Cakes
What’s Gaby Cooking and Sweet Potato Day
The MIssion List and Sweet Potato Day
World Moms Blog and Sweet Potato Day
Go Graham Go and Sweet Potato Day
Cranberry Sweet Potato Crumb Cake from Barbara Bakes
Bourbon and Marshmallow Sweet Potatoes from Boston Mamas
Documama and Sweet Potato Day
Sweet Potato Bread Pudding from Eat the Love
Lamb Shanks with Sweet Potatoes and Sausage from Kitchen Gadget Girl
Sweet Potato Love To Help End World Hunger from Love That Max
Celebrating Sweet Potato Day with Mom Trends
Sweet Potato Chili from Righteous Bacon
Cooking Sweet Potatoes for Picky Eaters from Rookie Moms
Sweet Potatoes and Global Health from Third Eye Mom
Indian Spiced Sweet Potato Kielbasa ONE Skillet Bake from Tickled Red
Sweet, Dude, Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash from Helen Jane
Oh My Sweet Potato Apple Bake from Bowl Licker
Sweet Potato and Peanut Gratin from Non-Reactive Pan
Sweet Potato Fries from When You Wake Up a Mother (also found on Million Moms Challenge)
Hi! My name is Jane Maynard and you've landed yourself on my blog, This Week for Dinner™. Every Sunday I share a weekly menu...and count on you to share yours! You'll also find other deliciousness that I hope you'll enjoy!
Love Sweet Potato Black Bean Burritos!!! They are my go to burrito!!! Wish more restaurants offered them, actually I wish just one did but none here in the snowy blizzard midwest 🙂
I have a shortcut version of these burrito I did for my Alexia Foods review:http://lovingthesemicountrylife.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/spicy-sweet-potato-black-bean-burritos-using-alexia-fries/
Now I’m really wanting one but we have no salsa 🙁
I will have to definitely check out your version! thanks!!
I think you need to get to the store posthaste for some salsa! 😉
Jane — what a gorgeous recipe — I must try! Thank you for organizing this great blog hop!
Jen 🙂
Thanks, Jen! and THANK YOU for being a part of the day!
Burritos are my favorite food group. I’m definitely going to have to try these. Thanks for hosting today, Jane. Everything looks fantastic!
ha ha! yes, burrito should be a food group! 😉
What kind of vinegar do you use for the black beans?
white vinegar. good question – going to go specify in the recipe. thank you!
Those look so good — can’t wait to try with my kids.
my kids actually ate them – hopefully your cuties will too!
These tacos sound so good. I love the addition of the slaw.
the slaw alone has a lot of kick (like, citrusy kick)…nate was thinking it would be too much, but then he bit into the burrito and was like,” this slaw is perfect on here!” it really is just so yummy 🙂
Each of those individual recipes sounds delicious – can’t wait to try them all together! And sounds like a great cause. I’m looking forward to learning more. Thanks!
Sweet potatoes are my fave!!! Love this!
My husband is a diehard Sweet Potato fan. He loves them!
What a beautiful sounding burrito, especially with that slaw!!
Great looking recipe!!! Do you drain the beans?
Great question! Cora told me that she sometimes drains them but couldn’t remember exactly, so I mostly drained the beans and added 1/2 cup water and was pleased with the results. I had forgotten that, so thanks for asking – I have modified the recipe. Bottom line – doesn’t matter too much! 🙂
For the beans do you drain and rinse them or put them in the pot straight from the can? Thanks for sharing these yummy recipes!!
Hi robin! See comment 11 right above yours! 🙂 just answered your q?
Hi there,
Like your blog. Anyway you could do a weekly grocery list with your killer menus? That would be completely awesome!
🙂 Amy
oh, amy, you must have been talking with my husband… 😉 great suggestion and I will definitely think about adding that – and finding the best way to do so. would definitely be helpful!!
Hi!
Just wanted to thank you for this incredible recipe. I bookmarked the site last week, but we didn’t make them until last night. My whole family, including 6 kids, thoroughly enjoyed them. They were simply amazing — and super easy! Thanks 🙂
valena, thanks so much for coming back to comment! and I’m glad you’re whole family loved them. that’s always the best result! 🙂 thank you!
O.M.G.!!!
We inhaled these tonight. For the record, I made the quantity you specified of each component, but only for 2 adults and a toddler…the tiny amount left over generated a no-holds-barred thumb war for claiming rights.
This is the greatest recipe ever. Thank you.
Since I am making for my kids who are sensitive to heat, I am concerned about how much cumin and chili powder I should use on the sweet potatoes. I also dont want to under season either. My SP are on the large side. Any suggestions?
you can totally add as much or as little as you like! I don’t think cumin adds any heat, just flavor, so maybe you could skip the chili powder or just do small shake. my kids have never had any issues with the heat of this dish, however, and I use all the spices – I just don’t go too heavy but we still have great flavor.
for some of these kinds of dishes, I leave off the spicy spices (chili powder or cayenne) and add them to me and nate’s plates at serving time. that’s another thought!
I hope this is helpful!