Winter is the perfect time to consume root vegetables. They store well for the winter months. Roots help to ground our body with Mother Earth when the winter doesn’t allow as much time to enjoy the outdoors. Personally, I love eating root vegetables all year long, especially beets.
Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Quinoa Salad
This recipe is partially inspired by my daughter, Emily. She was telling me she had planned to roast some diced sweet potatoes for supper that evening, and it got me thinking how warm, sweet, and delicious sweet potatoes are. This wonderful root vegetable can be enjoyed during the chilly winter months. A powerful antioxidant, sweet potatoes are thought to promote gut health, support the brain and eyes.
Autumn Bowl
Sweet Potato Chowder
Sweet potatoes are so delicious and provide 377% of the daily recommended Vitamin A. For those of us who try to abstain from added sugars, this vegetable is a treat, as the natural sweetness satisfies those hankerings. I still don’t understand why people put brown sugar on their sweet potato and sour cream on the white potato.
Coconut and Lentil Curry
Lentil, Sweet Potato, and Kale Soup
While both lentils and chickpeas are a good source of protein, the sweet potatoes provide a soft texture and flavor. Kale provides fiber, iron, calcium, and Vitamin C. The use of an immersion blender provide creaminess without the use of dairy. Serve with a salad or sandwich for a complete meal.
Lentil, Sweet Potato, and Kale Soup
- 1 container (32 ounce) vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup lentils
- 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 cup kale, chopped into 1-inch pieces
Directions:
- In a medium saucepan, pour in the container of vegetable broth; cook on medium.
- Add lentils, sweet potatoes, and onions and cook until potatoes are soft.
- Add chickpeas and bring to a boil.
- Using an immersion blender, pulse 5-6 times or until half the soup is blended. If you don't have an immersion blender, pour half the soup into an electric blender and pulse until smooth. Pour contents back into pot.
- Add kale and cook an additional 15 minutes or until kale is tender.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour into bowls and enjoy!