sweet potatoes and cous cous

This is a simple yet rich tomatoey sweet potato and carrot stew which works very well with cous cous.  In fact I would serve everything with cous cous if I could, I'm just simply addicted to it.

A soft hint of cumin brings out the sweetness in the carrots and the potatoes making this an all round mid-week family favourite.

Maybe a little healthy for some but try it, it may surprise you.

 Serves 2

You'll need:

• 3 sweet potatoes, chopped (skin on for more roughage)
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 red onion
• 1 cup cous cous
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 Tbs olive oil

Method:

1) Saute the onion in olive oil till transparent.

2) Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and cumin and simmer for approx 20 - 30 mins.

3) Pour the boiling water over the cous cous and leave to stand for approx 10 mins, serve with the stew and enjoy.

 

warm chicken salad with sweet potato chips

This salad together with the sweet potato chips has become my new favourite meal.  I love serving it as a quick and casual lunch with friends.  I highly recommend it for it's simplicity and gorgeous flavours.

I'm sure Theo Paphitis from Dragons Den would agree that the return of taste & enjoyment you get out of this meal, far out ways the time and effort put into it. 

In order to appreciate the full range of flavours this salad has to offer, one needs to taste it, so do yourself a favour, try it - its worth it.

 

Warm Chicken Salad

Serves 4

You'll need:

• 4 chicken breasts, cut into strips
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• juice of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 large chili (optional)
• 1 packet mixed salad leaves
• few cherry tomatoes, sliced
• 1 spring onion

For the salad dressing;

• 1 small red onion (or shallot), very finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2cm fresh ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce

Method:

1) Marinate the chicken strips.  Put garlic, cumin, lemon juice, 1 Tbs olive oil, chili, 1 tsp soy sauce in a bowl with the chicken and leave to stand for a few minutes (the longer the better).

2) Gently fry the chicken in a pan.

3) Arrange the salad leaves in a bowl or platter, add the tomatoes, spring onions and place the cooked chicken on top.

4) For the salad dressing, add the ketchup, vinegar, 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp olive oil, ginger, the finely chopped onion, mix well and pour over the salad.

 

Sweet potato chips

You'll need

• 6 sweet potatoes, sliced in strips with skin on
• 2 Tbs olive oil

Method:

1) Arrange potatoes on a baking tray and pour over the olive oil

2) Bake in preheated oven of 180 degrees for approx 30 minutes or until golden.

3) Season with salt and pepper and enjoy with the salad



sweet potato soup with coconut + chilli

What more do you need on a windy Autumn day than this delicious sweet potato soup with chilli, ginger & coconut cream, served with toasted pumpkin seed rye bread.  Would taste equally as sweet with a few roasted vine tomatoes on top!




Serves 2

You'll need:

• 1 onion
• 2-3 sweet potatoes (peeled and chopped)
• grated fresh ginger (about an inch)
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped
• chilli (optional or to taste)
• 3 Tbs coconut cream

Method: 

1) Saute onion till transparent. 

2) Grate the ginger and add with chopped garlic. 

3) Add the sweet potatoes, cover with boiling water and bring to boil. 

4) Simmer for approx 30 minutes or until soft. 

5) Add chilli and coconut cream. 

6) Season with salt and pepper and serve with a drizzle of olive oil and coconut cream.