BLACK BEAN & SWEET POTATO SALAD WITH CILANTRO MINT DRESSING

4 servings, 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS

Dressing

• 2 cups fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

• 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, chopped

• 2 finger pinch asafetida (very small pinch)

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

• 2 tbsp maple syrup

• 1/2 tsp coriander seeds, freshly ground

• 1/4 cup olive oil (add more if needed)

• 1 medium avocado (to make it creamy, optional)

Salad

• 2-3 cups chopped romaine lettuce

• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into small cubes

• 2 cups cooked black beans, (use either cuban black bean recipe or BPA free jarred cooked black beans cooked on the stovetop with 1/2 tsp cumin seeds (freshly ground) and 1/4 tsp turmeric powder))

• Lime juice for serving

• Fresh Fennel Slaw (optional)

• Extra avocado slices (optional)

• Fresh tomatoes, chopped (optional, ideally yellow tomatoes as they are less acidic)

DIRECTIONS

1. Prep the sweet potatoes: Peel and chop the sweet potatoes and add to a large saucepan over medium heat with 1 tbsp ghee or avocado oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover and allow to cook until tender (about 15 minutes), stirring every 2-3 minutes to prevent burning.

2. While that is cooking, prep the black beans: ideally, you already have the cuban black beans made, but if you don't and you are in a pinch add the jarred black beans to a small pot over medium heat with the cumin and turmeric. Add salt and pepper to taste. Heat until the beans are warmed through (about 10 minutes).

3. While those are cooking, prep your dressing: Add all the ingredients for the dressing to a food processor or blender. Blend into a uniform sauce.

4. Assemble your salad: Add the cooked sweet potatoes, black beans, romaine lettuce, fennel slaw (if using), fresh avocado (if using), and tomatoes (if using) to a large mixing bowl. Add the dressing and mix together. Enjoy!

#lunch #dinner #pitta #kapha #summer

Dressing recipe adapted from loveandlemons.com

Notes

• The word "salad" is not really in the Ayurvedic vocabulary. But in the summer or on hot days and combined in the right way, we can get away with it.

• The cumin & turmeric in the black beans help to de-gas the bean, they are important, don't skip them.

• If vata: this might not be the recipe for you. You could try taking out the black beans and just having sweet potato, lettuce, dressing, and any other topping over some cumin rice. That would be nice :).

• If pitta or kapha: this recipe is great as is! Feel free to add cooked basmati rice if pitta - that will give it an extra satiating kick for the hungry pittas out there. For kaphas, have as is.