No vegetable is more synonymous with autumn than the sweet potato. We love these hardy, delicious vegetables with vegan butter and a bit of pepper, but they are so much more versatile than you might think. Our recipe looks and tastes exotic, but it’s incredibly easy to prepare. This dish is packed with protein and vitamins, and the ingredients are inexpensive. The combination of avocado, peas, chickpeas, and tahini creates a flavor explosion that will linger in your mouth after you’re done eating your meal. You just have to try our recipe, and you’ll know exactly what we mean.

BASE INGREDIENT

4 medium-sized sweet potatoes, baked until soft or steamed on a rack in the Instant Pot at high pressure, manual for 15 minutes.

AVOCADO/PEA PUREE INGREDIENTS

1 cup green peas (either fresh or frozen will do, but thaw frozen peas to room temperature first)
1 large avocado
1-2 chopped garlic cloves
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 tablespoon olive oil
Dash of sea salt
Dash of fresh ground pepper
Water for consistency

SPICED CHICKPEA INGREDIENTS

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon ancho chile powder
Pinch of chili flakes
Dash of sea salt

MAPLE TAHINI DRESSING INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons tahini
1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup (not pancake syrup!)
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 minced clove garlic
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon olive oil
Dash of sea salt
Dash of fresh ground pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare spiced chickpeas by placing them in a saucepan with onions and spices. Saute on medium heat until chickpeas are thoroughly cooked (but not burned) and onions are translucent. Remove from heat and set aside. Place pea and avocado puree ingredients in blender or food processor and combine thoroughly, adding water for consistency if necessary. Finally, prepare your maple tahini dressing by combining all ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Whisk until the mixture is creamy.

Slice sweet potatoes lengthwise and layer with avocado/pea puree. Ladle a generous helping of spiced chickpeas on top. Garnish with a liberal dollop of maple tahini dressing. Place your creation on a large plate and dig in. You won’t believe how good this meal tastes, with its amazing mélange of flavors!

This hearty dish serves 4 hungry people. It’s great all by itself, or with a side salad and/or a loaf of gluten-free bread. You are extremely unlikely to have leftovers, but if you do, place them in a secure container and refrigerate. You can reheat your meal tomorrow for a quick and satisfying lunch! Enjoy.