Sweet Potato Burritos

Date Prepared: 01/26/11

Source: Available on-line at Penzey's.com

Sweet Potato Burritos

*Recipe:

2 sweet potatoes (1 1/2 lb. or so total)

3/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/2 tsp. ground coriander

1/2 tsp. granulated garlic powder

1/4 tsp. black pepper (optional)

2 TB. lime juice (juice of 1 lime)

1 15-oz. can black beans

1 Cup corn kernels

1/4-1/2 tsp. salt (optional)

6 whole wheat tortillas

Optional Fillings:

1/2 Cup chopped olives

1 Cup chopped tomatoes

1/4 Cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 Cup shredded sharp cheddar or Chihuahua cheese

Preheat oven to 400°. Pierce the sweet potatoes with a fork, place on a baking sheet and bake for 40-60 minutes, depending on the size of the sweet potatoes. Or, if you're in a hurry, microwave the sweet potatoes for about 15 minutes.

Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven and let cool. Reduce oven heat to 350°. Scoop the insides out of the potatoes into a bowl and mash with the spices and lime juice. Stir in the beans and corn. Add salt to taste if using. Spoon the mixture in the tortillas along with any optional fillings you desire. Roll up and bake for 10 minutes until heated through.

Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 40 - 60minutes
Yield: 6 burritos
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Difficulty: Easy - This recipe couldn't get any easier unless you pulled the burritos out of the freezer. No special equipment is needed to complete this preparation. The skill level required for this preparation is basic.

Accessibility: Common - All of the ingredients required for this recipe can be purchased in a typical grocery store. Fresh beans and corn are not necessary but would be a welcome replacement to canned items.

Visual Appeal: The food photographers at Penzey's did an excellent job presenting this dish. It looks appealing and was enticing enough to make its way onto our plates. The final product that came out of our kitchen was not particularly appealing to the eye. Without adding lettuce or cilantro, the burrito is relatively monochromatic. There isn't the height or textural components that might encompass a more traditional plated dish. But where this dish lacks in visual appeal, it makes up some in flavor.

Overall Taste: The taste of this dish was interesting. The sweetness of the sweet potato is predominant but not cloying. There is not a lot of salt added and no major salty component that helps balance the sweetness. This preparation provides a unique flavor experience but lacks texture components to elevate the taste and overall experience - rice, crispy tortilla strips, and such. It was difficult for me to control the impulse to manipulate the recipe and some extra chipotle peppers and adobo made it into the burrito filling. The added heat provided another layer of flavor.

Overall Experience: I am slightly embarrassed at the simplicity of this recipe, but the idea of eating a sweet potato burrito was too intriguing to pass up. The recipe was easy to prepare and good for a weeknight quick recipe. Between the beans and the sweet potatos -and lack of greasy meat- this recipe allowed me feel good about what I was eating. This recipe will likely make a second round with some additional modifications.

Additional Notes: This recipe provides the perfect platform to discuss the use of canned staples. Although I would prefer to use fresh ingredients, this is not always practical or cost-effective. I didn't think ahead enough to soak dry black beans overnight and didn't want to spend the time quick cooking them, so canned beans were used. Having a good understanding of how to work with fresh ingredients, as well as how to manipulate processed ingredients will allow a chef/cook to adapt better in their kitchen and expand the possibilities of their cuisine. Agree or disagree, this is my soup can for the day (soap boxes have no place in the kitchen).

*The recipe and instructions for this recipe have been reported to maintain the original instruction and is not an original recipe and belongs to the source indicated. This post has been prepared as a review only and with no intention to take credit for this recipe. This recipe has been reviewed without instruction or influence by the parties or companies mentioned therein.