Boy, oh boy, do I have a dinner for you!
I’ve had sweet potatoes chilling at the bottom of my veggie pile since before Christmas and knew their expiration date was fast approaching. I was trying to brainstorm ideas of what to do with it when I realized that I had flour tortillas sitting on my counter that also needed to be used up. And that, my friends, is how the Sweet Potato and Veggie Quesadilla was born out of necessity.
I guess I can add this one to the list of weird food combinations. Sweet potato and avocado in a tortilla? Sure. When I was home in Florida my dad said that I mix too many of my food groups together with my meals! I’m not sure if he said that after I put spinach, yogurt, and a banana together in a smoothie or topped a pizza off with butternut squash, ricotta cheese and balsamic vinegar. 
But moving on.
For the quesadillas, you’ll need:
- 2 sweet potatoes
- 1 medium onion
- 1 pepper (green, red, yellow… your choice)
- 1 can of black beans
- 1 avocado
- 2 cups of Mexican blend shredded cheese
- 8 flour tortillas
- Fajita seasoning (optional)
Directions: Peel your sweet potato and dice into 1/2″ pieces. Chop your onion and pepper (or cheat like me and buy pre-diced peppers). In a saute pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and add your sweet potato and season with salt and pepper. Cook for approximately four minutes and add your onions, peppers, and fajita seasoning, if using. Cook for an additional five minutes and transfer to a paper towel covered plate. While cooking, drain and rinse your black beans and dice up your avocado. Lay out a tortilla and spread a thin layer of cheese on top. Spread on your sweet potato mixture, black beans, and avocado. Top with additional cheese and place a second tortilla on top (I made my quesadilla in halves by topping just one half of a tortilla with the fillings and then folding it in half). Cook in a oil coated pan on each side for about two minutes or until the outside of the tortilla becomes golden. Serves four.
Seriously so good. And just check out the color explosion happening inside!
Lately I’ve been trying to come up with more veggie based meals. I don’t have any plans to go all vegetarian, but have decided that I’d like to start cutting back on the amount of meat in my diet. I would never consider myself a huge meat eater, but there are some days that meat will sneak into at least two of my daily meals, if not all three.
What’s funny about cutting back on meat is that when I consciously try to avoid it, it seems impossible to come up with a meal without chicken or turkey. But then there are days when I don’t even try and realize as I’m going to bed that I went the entire day without meat!
What are your feelings towards eating meat? Mama Pea has been talking a lot lately about The China Study and I can’t really comment since I haven’t read the book, however it has made me stop to think about things.
i dont eat red meat.. and RARELY eat chicken or turkey… its only on very special occasions.. i eat fish.. but i mostly eat vegetarian– i just dont see the need for meat and i cannot stand the thought of hurting animals.. i love your quesadillas!
I’m not sure how I personally feel about The China Study…but the documentary Food, Inc (free on netflix if you have it) is an awesome film about where our food comes from in general. It does not promote vegetarianism, but does present why eating meat responsibly is important (as in grass fed beed from small farms, etc), as well as vegetables and grain. It’s unbiased, eye-opening, and might change the way you grocery shop completely!
I would never go completely vegetarian but like you I’ve tried to cut back on meat. It helps that during the school year I live with my boyfriend’s family where all the girls are vegetarian!
The photos with your new cam are great!
You can put sweet potatoes in anything. Seriously.
I’ve been vegetarian for about 2 years and I love it. I feel healthier and I’m much more creative with my cooking now!