What’s For Dinner: Healthy (vegan & gluten free) Mexican Sweet Potato Casserole

When I read a recipe that is labelled “vegan”, I automatically ignore it. Because, let’s face it, vegan foods I have tried are usually pretty blah. Trust me, you want to read about this one.

My besties, Cristianna and Lindsay, told me about this dish. I never tried their version, as they included cheese, but tried my own recipe. Surprisingly, this was an extremely simple recipe, that truly is delicious, and after looking over my ingredients, I realized it is vegan. Cool! And there is no gluten. Double cool!

This hearty vegetable casserole is very flavorful and very filling. If I’m trying to watch my weight, I always make this to eat throughout the week. But then again, I have made it for Christmas dinner as well. It is very versatile! And did I mention easy? Here are the details below.

Here’s the recipe video:

Ingredients
-3 large sweet potatoes
-2 cans black beans
-1 can whole kernel corn
-1/2 yellow onion, chopped
-1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
-3 tablespoons minced garlic
-2 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
-1/4 teaspoon chipotle powder
-1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

Directions
1. Peel sweet potatoes and chop into same-sized pieces. Place into
about 10 cups of water, with 1 tablespoon salt, and boil for at least
20 minutes. Once they are fork-tender, they are ready.
2. While potatoes are boiling, prepare other ingredients and place in
a bowl:
-rinse cans of beans and corn
-add onion, garlic, and cilantro
3. Once potatoes are done, drain and place them into a very large
bowl. Mash them until smooth.
4. Add remaining salt, pepper, chipotle powder, and paprika. Stir.
5. Add all vegetables to the potatoes and stir until well-mixed.
6. Spray an oven-safe dish and add the casserole. Cook at 350
degrees for 20 minutes.
7. Add more cilantro on the top when serving, if you like cilantro.

Mexican Sweet Potato Casserole (Vegan and Gluten Free!)

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican, vegan, gluten free,

Ingredients
  

  • 3 large sweet potatoes
  • 2 cans black beans
  • 1 can whole kernel corn
  • 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro optional
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced or 3 tbsps minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsps salt, plus 1 tsp
  • 1/4 tsp chipotle powder
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

Instructions
 

  • Peel sweet potatoes and chop into same-sized pieces. Place into about 10 cups of water, with 1 tablespoon salt, and boil for at least20 minutes. Once they are fork-tender, they are ready.
  • While potatoes are boiling, prepare other ingredients and place in a bowl:
    -rinse cans of beans and corn
    -add onion, garlic, and cilantro
  • Once potatoes are done, drain and place them into a very largebowl. Mash them until smooth.
  • Add remaining salt, pepper, chipotle powder, and paprika. Stir.
  • Add all vegetables to the potatoes and stir until well-mixed.
  • Spray an oven-safe dish and add the casserole. Cook at 350degrees for 20 minutes.
  • Add more cilantro on the top when serving, if you like cilantro.
Keyword healthy, recipe, amy westerman, vegan, gluten free, mexican, mexican sweet potato casserole, sweet potato, black beans,

What’s for dinner: One of our favorites: Watermelon Jicama Mint Salad!

Years ago, my besties, Cristianna and Lindsay, invited us over for our first official dinner party. It was delicious!

Ever since then, I have frequently made this crazy refreshing and bright watermelon jicama mint salad. I had to ask Cristianna what jicama was, which is like a Mexican turnip. It has the texture of a starchy potato, but the crispness and freshness of an apple. I also asked for the recipe, and she gave me some overall ideas of what was in it, but nothing specific. So, I had to figure out those deets on my own. (We were just getting to know each other then, so I guess she didn’t want to share her secrets just yet) When I made the recipe video, she let me know I was close, with one correction…smh. Below is my recipe, followed by Cristianna FINALLY letting me know the correct recipe! Thanks, blog!

Here’s a very short video on how to make the salad, and the recipe is below.

Recipe:
-10 cups cubed watermelon
-5 cups julienned jicama
-3 tablespoons fresh, chopped mint
-1/2 cup fresh lime juice
-1.5 teaspoons salt
-1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (or 1 tablespoon fresh lime zest
instead, according to Cristianna)
-2 tablespoons honey

Directions:
1. Cut the watermelon into small cubes. This can be done many ways, but the video above shows my favorite method. I have also julienned the watermelon, and that made for a beautiful salad as well.
2. Julienne the jicama. I do NOT suggest cubing it. Jicama is a nice, sublte touch if added in small bites. However, it can be too much if the bites are too large.
3. Make the dressing by adding the mint, lime juice, salt, vinegar (or lime zest), and honey and mixing.
4. Add all ingredients together and refrigerate to cool. Eat at any time.
*Hint: Don’t throw away any of the juice left from the salad. Instead, make a great summer cocktail with it by adding some tequila!

Cristianna’s hint:
Instead of using apple cider vinegar, I just zest the lime and use that. I can’t believe you couldn’t figure that out, Amy!

If you use this recipe, comment and let us know how you like it!

Watermelon Jicama Mint Salad

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 2 minutes
Course Appetizer, Dessert, Salad, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American

Ingredients
  

  • 10 cups cubed watermelon
  • 5 cups julienned jicama
  • 3 tbsps fresh, chopped mint
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1.5 tsps salt
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar or 1 tablespoon fresh lime zest instead
  • 2 tbsps honey

Instructions
 

  • Cut the watermelon into small cubes. This can be done many ways, but the video above shows my favorite method. I have also julienned the watermelon, and that made for a beautiful salad as well.
  • Julienne the jicama. I do NOT suggest cubing it. Jicama is a nice, subtle touch if added in small bites. However, it can be too much if the bites are too large.
  • Make the dressing by adding the mint, lime juice, salt, vinegar (or lime zest), and honey and mixing.
  • Add all ingredients together and refrigerate to cool. Eat at any time.
Keyword watermelon jicama mint salad, mint, jicama, watermelon, amy westerman, light, recipe, summer dish,