Satisfying Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipe

Recipe From Dr. Mercola

Potatoes can be turned into delicious and savory treats, but common choices like fries and chips are cooked in harmful trans-fats. For a nutritious version, try this Loaded Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potatoes recipe from Greatist. This baked dish can be served as a game day snack or as a side dish for the whole family.

Satisfying Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed clean
  • ½ cup diced bell peppers
  • 2/3 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • Salsa
  • ½ avocado, diced
  • Cilantro, to garnish (optional)

Procedure

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a fork to prick holes in potatoes. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until flesh is soft.
  2. Meanwhile, combine peppers, black beans, cumin, chili powder, and lime juice in a bowl. Set aside to let flavors develop.
  3. Remove sweet potatoes from oven. Cut slits down each lengthwise, and pull apart to create a well for fillings.
  4. Spoon 2 tablespoons salsa and bean mixture into each potato. Top with avocado and cilantro, if desired.

Get Your Fill of Health Benefits With Loaded Southwestern Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a great alternative to potatoes because they have more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can improve eye health. Plus, beta-carotene, the antioxidant responsible for sweet potatoes’ orange hue, fights cell-damaging free radicals, supports your immune system, and lessens your risk of heart disease and cancer. Just make sure to eat sweet potatoes in moderation, because they contain fructose.

Bell peppers’ health benefits are as abundant as their different colors. These vibrant veggies give your body an extra dose of protection against free radicals, scurvy, and artery inflammation, which can lead to heart disease, diabetes, and cholesterol build-up if not prevented. Bell peppers also contain healthy plant compounds, vitamins A and K, B vitamins, and minerals like copper and magnesium.

This recipe also makes use of flavorful spices like chili powder and cumin. Chili powder and other spicy food contain capsaicin, a compound well-known to help with weight loss and obesity, while promoting heart protection, satiety (making you feel full longer), and pain relief.

Cumin (not to be confused with curcumin), meanwhile, is known to help treat diarrhea, flatulence, and respiratory diseases, although more studies are now highlighting its extraordinary impacts. The spice was found to have antioxidant capabilities and may help relieve stress.

Cumin seeds, meanwhile, have been shown to be beneficial for diabetics and those who struggle with asthma. These can also lessen symptoms of allergic rhinitis and rheumatoid arthritis.