July 24th, 2019

​African Spiced Sweet Potatoes and Lentils with Tomato Sauce

SERVINGS: 5-6
​DIFFICULTY: Moderate
DIETARY:  Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free
PREP/COOK TIME:  30 min/45 mi

---

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

• ​​2 sweet potatoes cut into 1" cubes (yams are fine)
• 2 tbsp. cumin
• 2 tbsp. paprika
• 1 tbsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 tbsp. dried oregano
• 2 tbsp. salt
• 2 tbsp. black pepper
• 2 tbsp. olive oil

​Lentils with Stewed Tomatoes

• ​2 cups dried lentils
• 8 cups water or vegetable stock (no sodium)
• 2 vine tomatoes (big ones)
• 3 oz. tomato paste 
• 2 tbsp. olive oil 
• 2 bell peppers
• 1 yellow onion
• 4 cloves garlic 
• 2 tbsp. cumin
• 2 tbsp. paprika
• 1 tbsp. cayenne pepper 
• 2 tbsp. dried oregano 
• 3 tbsp. salt 
• 3 tbsp. black pepper
• cilantro to garnish

1. ​​Bring the lentils and stock/water to a boil, then lower to a simmer for 30-35 minutes, or until tender.
2. ​Add the oil and listed seasonings to the sweet potatoes and toss on a sheet tray.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a fork can easily go through.
3. ​In a pan, add oil and all spices for the sauce.  Let them cook on low heat for a few minutes, then add the garlic and onion and sweat them out on medium heat (until they are translucent).  Add the tomato paste, tomatoes, bell peppers, and salt.  Simmer on medium heat for 30 minutes, smashing some of the tomatoes periodically.
4. ​Drain the lentils once they are tender (not hard), leaving a small amount of liquid in the pot.  Add the tomato sauce to the lentils pot and cook for another 15 minutes.
5. ​Remove the lentils and sauce off the heat and take the sweet potatoes out once they are tender.
6. ​Portion out the lentils, add the sweet potatoes on top, and garnish with cilantro!

---

Me Cuisine Tips

• Lentils are an acquired taste, but they are really good for your health.  You can replace them with other legumes like garbanzo beans or even black beans.