Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Black Beans and Smashed Avocado

, from Issue #68. September, 2016
Photography by Josh Griggs.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Black Beans and Smashed Avocado

Tender sweet potatoes get topped with fragrant black beans, my favourite tahini dressing and a dollop of creamy avocado. 

Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS

4 long sweet potatoes, about 300 grams each (I used beauregard)
olive oil
Tahini dressing
⅓ cup tahini
2 tablespoons water
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon each sesame oil, soy sauce and lemon juice
1 teaspoon maple syrup
Black beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
400-gram tin black beans, drained and rinsed
1 teaspoon cumin seed
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon chilli flakes
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
To serve
1–2 avocados, mashed, sour cream and salad leaves 

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180°C fan bake.

Cut a thin layer of flesh and skin off the top of each sweet potato and trim the bottoms so they sit flat. Brush all over with oil and season. Place cut side up on a lined baking tray and roast until tender, about 30–40 minutes depending on their size.

Dressing: Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl and season.

Black beans: Heat the oil in a sauté pan and add all the ingredients.

Toss over a medium heat until lightly golden and fragrant.

To serve: Place the sweet potatoes on serving plates and score the flesh with a knife. Drizzle with a little dressing then top with the black beans. Add a spoonful of avocado and sour cream along with the salad leaves. Serve any remaining dressing separately.