Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Spiced Lentils and Cashew-Lime Sauce

A beautiful plant-based meal, full of flavours and textures: roasted sweet potatoes, spiced lentils with roasted garlic, creamy cashew sesame lime sauce made with Cashew Toasted Sesame Butter, topped with quick-pickled red onion and fresh cilantro. Developed by Logan Petit Lot, this recipe highlights their slightly sweet and crunchy cashew sesame butter. This recipe makes two servings, but feel free to double or multiply as needed to make extra.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Spiced Lentils with Plant-based Creamy Cashew Lime Dressing

Sophie Bourdon

A plant-based bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, spiced lentils, and a creamy cashew–lime dressing. Finished with quick-pickled red onion and fresh cilantro, it’s a satisfying weeknight meal that also meal-preps well.

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Ingredients

For the pickled onion

• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings with a mandoline (or by hand with a sharp knife) (1/2 cup/50 g.)
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

For the sweet potatoes

• 2 medium sweet potatoes
• 3 garlic cloves, with the skin on
• cooking oil (such as avocado or grapeseed oil)
• sea salt

For the lentils

• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp chili flakes + more for topping, if desired
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup French (green) lentils (110 g.)
• 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/4 tsp sea salt

For the cashew sauce

• 1/4 cup Cashew Toasted Sesame Butter (70 g.)

To serve

• A handful of chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 425˚F (220˚C).
• Place the onions in a small bowl. Add the vinegar, sugar and sea salt. Mix well to combine and set aside to pickle.
• Scrub the sweet potatoes with a vegetable brush and slice lengthwise into 1-inch thick wedges. Place the potato wedges on an unlined baking sheet, drizzle about 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and toss to make sure all sides are coated. Sprinkle generously with salt. Arrange evenly on the baking sheet, making sure to leave some space in between each one so that they don’t touch.
• Trim the rough end of the unpeeled garlic cloves to expose the top part. Drizzle a bit of oil over the garlic, and place on the baking sheet alongside the potatoes.
• Roast in the oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until the bottom of the potatoes are light browned (time will vary depending on the size of the wedges). Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully flip the potatoes so that each side gets browned evenly. Check if the garlic is cooked: it’s ready when the center of the cloves is soft when pierced with a knife. Remove the garlic when ready and set aside to cool. Slide the sweet potatoes back into the oven and bake for another 10 minutes. The sweet potatoes are ready when the center is easily pierced with a knife and sides are nicely browned.
• While the potatoes cook, set a saucepan over low heat and add the spices: cumin, coriander, cinnamon and chili flakes. Toast until the spices become fragrant, shaking frequently, about 1-2 minutes. Add the tomato paste, stir to combine and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the water. Rinse the lentils, add them to the pot and mix well. Bring the mix to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until the liquid is fully absorbed and the lentils are tender. If the liquid is absorbed and the lentils are still uncooked, add water as needed, about ¼ cup at a time, and continue cooking. Lentils should be tender but still get a good bite; don’t let them go too far or they will get mushy.
• Press on the bottom of the cooled garlic cloves to push them out of their skin, and mash the flesh with a fork to break it down. Add mashed garlic to the pot of lentils, along with the vinegar, sugar and sea salt. Mix well. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Remove from the heat.
• To make the cashew cream, combine the Cashew Toasted Sesame Butter, lime juice and water in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Stir well with a small spatula. Tightly secure the lid and shake the jar vigorously until you get a creamy sauce.
• To serve, top the sweet potato wedges with a generous amount of the spiced lentils, then pour some cashew sauce over. Garnish with pickled onions, fresh cilantro, and sprinkle extra chili flakes on top if desired.

Keyword healthy comfort food, hearty vegan meal, plant-based dressing, quick, roasted sweet potatoes, Roasted Vegetables

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