Last year I signed up for a weekly delivery of fresh organic veggies. I found myself in a bit of a fixing-dinner-slump and I wanted some inspiration. I have to say it’s been wonderful. That box of fresh wholesome goodness is like having a mini-Christmas each and every week. What can I say? It’s the simple things in life that excite me! All the food is locally grown, seasonal, and it tastes like it’s just been picked. It’s amazing how different vegetables can taste when they haven’t been shipped in from some faraway land.
Another great benefit of the weekly delivery is trying out new vegetables that I don’t usually buy. Who knew fava beans could be so good? I grilled them in their pods with sea salt and olive oil and we ate them like edamame with our bbq burgers this summer. Last winter we turned Grandma into a baby bok choy fan; believe me – getting her try something other than corn, carrots and peas is no easy feat! This week we found out organic french fingerling potatoes taste just like regular spuds to us, and we’ve discovered that no matter what I do with them, we just don’t like persimmons.
Another thing we have been eating more often is sweet potatoes. To be honest, before my magic-box-of-vegetables started appearing at my door every Friday morning, I didn’t much like sweet potatoes. I usually associated them with that gooey marshmallow mess served at Thanksgiving. (No offense to those who like that mess, it’s just not my cup of tea, but if you come to my house for Thanksgiving, I’ll happily make them for you!) Sometimes I will just cut them in wedges and roast them in the oven. Sometimes I will make this easy “hash” that’s chock full of other yummy vegetables. I have kept the spices very mild, but don’t hesitate to kick it up a notch if your family likes the heat. A chopped hot pepper added to the onions can be a very good addition.
This recipe makes a great side dish. Or garnish with tomatoes, cheese, chopped cilantro, and sour cream, and serve it as a complete vegetarian meal. It’s also great served for brunch with an egg on top.
Southwestern Sweet Potatoes with Peppers and Beans.
Ingredients
2 teaspoons Olive Oil
I medium Onion chopped
3 Celery stalks chopped
2 Sweet Bell Peppers (I used 4 smaller gypsy peppers because that’s what I had)
2 cups of Corn (about 2 ears of corn – roast it first if you have the time)
2.5 pounds of Sweet Potatoes cubed
1 large can of Black Beans – rinsed
½ teaspoon Cumin
½ teaspoon Chipotle Chile Pepper
1 teaspoon Paprika
Instructions
Saute onions and celery in oil over medium heat. When onions are beginning to soften, add in spices and stir. Add celery, peppers, and sweet potatoes. Cover with lid, and cook about 5minutes until potatoes are getting soft. Remove lid and cook about 5 more minutes until potatoes are done and slightly browned. Add corn and the beans, and heat til they are warmed through. Serve. Makes 6 side dish servings.
Such an interesting recipe! It looks delicious. I would love to come for brunch.
PattyPie, we also signed up for a farm box this summer. It’s the cheapest organic produce I can find. I tweeted organic Kate Gosselin when I was thinking about signing up, and she bragged that her Amish neighbor has better prices. Alas! I have no Amish neighbor to buy from. So I purchased our share.
We were so glad we did! I just loved talking to the farmer or his kids or interns every week. I met new friends. But best of all the veggies were absolutely delicious. Here in the East the stars of the box were the carrots (new colors! very sweet!,) the various leafy greens, and my favorite, the SWEET POTATOES!
My favorite way to eat them is cut in wedges, roasted with olive oil, a touch of cinnamon sugar, and rosemary. YUM!
Forgot to add: the excitement of “what do we get THIS week?” really is like getting a present. I picked mine up from the farm (by choice…I wanted to see the farm) and when I brought the box in from the car the kids often tried to “guess the herbs” by smell.
Pattpie,
So glad you enjoy your fresh box every week. Of course everyone knows I garden, so my mix and match is always out my back door. We do enjoy sweet potatoe fries, slice them very thin, olive oil and sea salt. Bake at 350 until tender, the last few minutes I put under broiler. I have friends who bake them just like a baked potatoe, not my favorite tho. Your new dishes look fab!
Ann,
Isn’t it fun to see how everything is grown? Kids love the experience of a real growing farm, instead of a store. 🙂
This looks fabulous and so colorful too! I am not much of a fan of the sweet potatoe but I will try this.
I’m already a fan of sweet potatoes, so seeing a new recipe makes my night.:-)
.
I love the vegetarian option as well as the brunch one. In fact, can we make it Sunday already so I can make this and enjoy it with some freshed OJ?
Wow, this looks delicious. I love sweet potatoes, and they are so full of good vitamins!
Oh, Pie. That dish is on my menu ASAP. It looks delicious.
We love sweet potatoes but lack good recipe ideas… It’s not easy to cook with them I find. But this recipe sounds SOOOOO yummy! I pinned it to try it out! Thanks! 🙂
This looks yummy, Thank you for sharing the recipe..
Grams and I love to experiment and try new recipes and this one will definitely be tried as we all enjoy Southwestern cuisine. Thanks, Pie!
For a Southern twist try cubed sweet potatoes or butternut squash cubes sprayed with Pam and oven roasted with raisins and shallots.
Sweet potatoes, just thinking about them make my mouth water. So yummy to the tummy!
You all are sweeter than sweet potatoes! Please let me know how the recipe worked out for you and what changes you make! 🙂
I want to try the fava beans fixed like that. Those sound tasty. I am jealous of the home delivery of fresh goods. A good friend of mine is always telling me what comes right to her door. I can’t justify it because our co-op is so close.
I’m not a sweet potatoes fan but my mom’s birthday is coming up and I think she would love this on her dinner menu. I think I will have to try to make it for her. Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE THESE… what an amazing recipe. Thank you
I love sweet potatoes! This recipe sounds awesome!
PP, what a creative recipe. Certainly different than anything I’ve ever done with sweet potatoes – it looks delicious. In addition to Snicker’s suggestion of the oven fries, I often substitue sweet potatoes in Italian dishes that use pumpkin; caplaz, ravioli, risotto, etc.
Sweet potato ravioli, risotto, etc! Those are great ideas CJ!
Snickers – I often think of you and your big Garden when I get my box of veggies!
Oh man, that looks so tasty! can’t wait to try it.
Thanks for the recipe. I know that sweet potatoes are healthy but I never know how to cook them without lots of sugar and cinnamon! This looks like a healthy way to eat them!
Love sweet potatoes! Hate them with marshmallows, though! This sounds like a perfect balance, with the peppers and onions…a must try!
So pretty…I love sweet potatoes and I don’t get that side dish that is made with all of the sugar and pecans and pineapple and marshmallows around Thanksgiving..YUCK! This sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing a healthy and easy recipe.