Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls

Are you ready for a delicious, spicy, seasoned, veggie-filled meal? I love to eat colorful food, and these Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls certainly do not disappoint!

To get started, heat the olive oil over medium heat.

While the oil is heating, dice 2 medium sweet potatoes into uniform sized cubes. It’s important that they’re uniform sized because this is what will ensure even cooking. Once chopped, add to the pan with heated olive oil and begin cooking, stirring every few minutes so that they cook evenly.

Chopped Sweet Potatoes | Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls | www.margeswearin.com
I cut mine into about 1/2″ (ish) cubes.

While the potatoes are cooking, chop up the Anaheim chiles and Onion. After the potatoes have cooked 8-10 minutes, (they should be almost fork tender). Add the onions & chiles to the pan and stir to combine.

Chopped Onion & Jalapeno | Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls | www.margeswearin.com
Cut Anaheim chilis just like a bell pepper, cut off the top, and remove the rind & seeds. These chilis are pretty mild. Feel free to use Poblanos or Jalapenos if you want more heat!

While this is cooking, add the spices, and wait…. just wait…. for that delicious smell! You should smell all those seasonings cooking after about a minute. Drooling yet?

Cooking Seasoned Sweet Potatoes | Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls | www.margeswearin.com

Continue to cook the vegetables for several more minutes until the onions become translucent. Add the drained black beans, and stir to combine.

Chopped Sweet Potatoes, Pepper, Black Beans, Seasoned | Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls | www.margeswearin.com

Deglaze the pan by adding the scant 1/2 cup of broth to the vegetable mixture, and add a lid to the pan to retain the moisture. Allow the chicken broth to cook off over the next few minutes. Continue to cook until most of the broth has evaporated, sweet potato is completely fork tender, and mixture is heated through.

Then you’re ready to build your bowl! I like to have this meal over my low carb Mexican Cauliflower Rice, but regular ol’ white rice is ok too. This is one of my favorite parts of cooking – the choice is yours.

Toppings are up to you! I like mine with sliced cherry tomatoes, a squeeze of fresh lime, some chopped cilantro, diced radishes, and a great sour cream substitute (1 single serve container of greek yogurt mixed with 1/2 pack of dry ranch seasoning – YUM). And I added a few tortilla chips to mine for some crunch!

Toppings! Avocado, Cilantro, Halved CHerry Tomtatoes, Fage Yogurt + 1/2 packet of Ranch Seasoning - yum! | Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls | www.margeswearin.com
Radishes MIA…. These were totally an afterthought.

This is the fun part – cooking has no rules (Well, a few, but I’ll get into that another time). If you want to add some other deliciousness – GO FOR IT! Leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite toppings were!!

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls | www.margeswearin.com
YUMMMMM. Enjoy!!

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burrito Bowl

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Burrito Bowls

A totally vegetarian option, with some easy swaps to make it vegan!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, chopped
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 Anaheim Chiles, chopped (could substitute bell pepper)
  • 1 can black beans, drained
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 cup (scant) chicken broth

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil in saute pan.
  • Chop sweet potato evenly (so that it cooks at the same rate), add to pan, and cook over medium heat. Stir every couple minutes so it does not burn.
  • While the sweet potato is cooking, chop the onion & Anaheim chiles.
  • Once the sweet potato is nearly cooked through, add the onion & chiles. You will know when they are nearly fork tender, or tender enough to stab with a fork. They should still be a little undercooked at this point.
  • Add the spices, and stir to combine while the vegetables cook.
  • Continue to allow the vegetables to cook, and once the onions become translucent, add the drained black beans and stir to combine.
  • Add the scant 1/2 cup chicken broth, and cover the mixture with a lid so that the moisture is retained, and the veggies continue to cook for a few minutes.
  • Once the broth is evaporated & sweet potato is completely cooked through, it's ready to eat!
  • Build your burrito bowl with the sweet potato black bean mixture, and serve over cauliflower rice.

Notes

Serve “Buddha Bowl Style” along with some rice, quinoa, or my Mexican Cauliflower Rice.
Optional toppings include: 
  • avocado
  • salsa
  • cherry tomato
  • cilantro
  • sliced romaine
  • sour cream (I mixed 1/2 pack ranch seasoning into 1 single serve container of greek yogurt – YUM!)
  • cheddar cheese
  • Squeeze a little lime on if you like! (I do!)
  • tortilla chips, for some crunch!
  • Chopped Radishes are also great for some crunch!
To make this recipe vegan: 
  • Swap chicken broth for vegetable broth
  • Omit any dairy (cheese, sour cream) from toppings
Too much heat?
  • If the chiles are too much heat – consider swapping for bell pepper or omit.  
  • Omit cayenne if you do not like spicy food.
Keyword black bean, burrito bowl, mexican food, sweet potato
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Mexican Cauliflower Rice

mexican cauliflower rice

What is cauliflower rice, you ask? Well, it’s simply that – “riced” cauliflower. Riced is a cooking term that is similar to “grated”. I love this recipe as a substitute for regular white rice – Bonus! – you’re getting an added vegetable serving! Because of that, it’s low calorie, low carb, and Keto friendly.

To start, wash your head of cauliflower, and remove the stem. I use my food processor with the grater attachment to “rice” the cauliflower florets. This whole process takes less than 5 minutes. Set aside.

You may be thinking – wait, I’ve seen cauliflower rice in the frozen foods section. Well, it’s available pre-riced too, but I like to save a couple bucks and simply use a large head of fresh cauliflower instead. The recipe will work with either version!

Add the olive oil, garlic, and (optional) jalapeno to a sautee pan and allow to cook for a couple minutes.

Once the peppers are softened, add the tomato paste and the seasonings, and stir to combine.

Once all the ingredients are combined, add the riced cauliflower, and stir, integrating all ingredients uniformly.

Once all ingredients are well mixed, add the can of Rotel, juices and all.

Stir well, and continue to cook over medium heat, approximately 7-8 minutes, until cauliflower is softened.

Forgive me guys, I was so hungry, I neglected to take a final photo! But I utilized this just like I would use a Mexican seasoned rice, in my Sweet Potato Black Bean Buddha Bowls, which were delicious! (between the cilantro and the tortilla chips! ha!)

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burrito Bowl

Let me know what you think about the recipe! I’ve also used this to serve as a side with fajitas, fish tacos, or any place you would sub regular carb-y rice.


mexican cauliflower rice

Mexican Cauliflower Rice

A delicious "Mexican Food" Version of Riced Cauliflower
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 6 approximate servings

Equipment

  • food processor

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large head cauliflower, riced (or 1 frozen package riced cauliflower)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic (or 2 tsp minced)
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 jalapeno, chopped (optional)
  • 3 tbsp tomato paste (use more as desired)
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 14 oz can Rotel

Instructions
 

  • Clean & remove cauliflower florets from the head of cauliflower. Use grater attachment of food processor to "rice" the cauliflower. Set aside.
  • Heat olive oil, and saute the chopped onion & jalapeno until nearly cooked. Then add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
  • Once the garlic is fragrant, add the tomato paste. **Note, depending on how much riced cauliflower you have, you may need to adjust this amount. Just know your finished product will be more "tomato-y" if you use the entire 4 oz container, like I did
  • Add your spices to tomato & veggie mixture, and cook 1-2 minutes to blend flavors.
  • Once blended, add riced cauliflower, and stir well.
  • After cauliflower and tomato mixture are well blended, add the entire can of Rotel, and continue to stir & cook over medium heat until the moisture from the Rotel has evaporated & the cauliflower is cooked through, about 7-8 minutes.
Keyword cauliflower, mexican, vegetarian
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