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Friday 4 November 2011

Eat Healthier: Sweet Potato

Image by MinimalistPhotography101.com

Add nutrition and variety to your weight loss plan

Sweet potatoes have a creamy texture and a sweet-spicy flavour that makes them ideal for savoury dishes.

Substituting potato with sweet potato will make your meals lighter, healthier and add variety to your menu. Make sure you include this tasty vegetable into your weight loss program or a diet plan.

Most of us know that sweet potato is a much healthier alternative to the usual white potato. Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are a major source of beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin C; they are healthier and have more nutritional value.

Here you can find some inspiration and some tasty hearty recipes sure to keep you full and satisfied during cold autumn and winter days.

Sweet potato shepherd's pie


Recipe and Photo by BBC Goog Food
This is a lighter version of the classic family supper meal. The great thing about it is that it also is freezable and it will fit perfectly into your diet plan adding lots of nutrition to your dinner.

Serves 4 people




Ingredients

•    250g extra-lean mince
•    2 onions , chopped
•    3 carrots , diced
•    2 celery sticks , diced
•    2 garlic cloves , crushed
•    200ml lamb stock
•    1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
•    1 tsp Marmite
•    1 x 400g tin lentils , drained
•    1kg sweet potatoes , chopped
•    2 tbsp half fat crème fraîche
•    1 bunch chives , snipped

Cooking Instructions:

1.    Heat a non-stick pan and dry fry the mince until browned. Add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic and fry for 5 minutes. Stir in the stock, Worcester sauce, Marmite, lentils and some seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes or until saucy. Meanwhile boil or steam the sweet potato until tender. Drain then mash with the crème fraîche. Add the chives.
2.    Heat the oven to 200C/fan oven 180C/gas 6. Transfer the mince to an ovenproof dish. Add the mash. Cook for 30 minutes until bubbling.
Nutritional Info per serving
414 kcalories, protein 22.6g, carbohydrate 72.7g, fat 5.7 g, saturated fat 2.4g, fibre 12.5g, salt 1.61 g

Sweet potato tortilla with pepper sauce

 

Photo and recipe by BBC Good Food
This is a tasty filling meal perfect for lunch or dinner. Add some green salad and enjoy!

Ingredients

•    800g sweet potatoes , peeled
•    olive oil
•    290g jar flame-roasted peppers , drained
•    1 tsp red wine vinegar
•    extra-virgin olive oil
•    1 tsp sweet smoked paprika
•    ½ tsp ground cumin
•    1 garlic clove , crushed
•    1 bunch spring onions , sliced
•    6 eggs , beaten and seasoned


Cooking Instructions:

1.    Slice the potatoes into thin rounds about 1/2 cm thick. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium non-stick frying pan (about 25cm across), then add the potatoes and season. Cover and cook gently for 10 minutes, stirring now and again, until tender.
2.    Meanwhile, put the peppers into a blender, add the vinegar, 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, the spices, garlic and some seasoning and whizz to a smooth sauce.
3.    Heat the grill to high. Scatter the onions over the potatoes, then pour the eggs over and shake the pan to distribute them evenly. Leave the tortilla to cook for about 8 minutes, shaking the pan regularly, until the eggs are almost set. Flash the pan under the grill for 1-2 minutes to finish cooking then serve in wedges with salad and the sauce.
Nutrition per serving: 409 kcalories, protein 15.3g, carbohydrate 46g, fat 19.5 g, saturated fat 4.2g, fibre 6.9g, salt 1.1 g

Sweet potato wedges


Photo and recipe by BBC Food
Sweet potato chips make a healthy, high-fibre alternative to traditional chips, but taste just as good (if not better!)





Ingredients

•    2 sweet potato, cut into wedges
•    4 tbsp olive oil
•    1 tbsp thyme leaves
•    salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation method
1.    Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
2.    Toss the wedges with the oil and thyme then season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3.    Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until lightly browned.
4.    Serve in a warm bowl

1 comment:

  1. Nice educational blog!!! I really like the tips provided by the blogger regarding this important subject. Thanks for sharing.

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