Vegan Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients and Weight:

• 8 medium sweet potatoes (about 5 pounds)
• 1 cup cooked black beans (canned or homemade)
• 1 cup cooked brown rice
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup vegan sour cream (made from cashews)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation Time:

• 30 minutes

Cooking Time:

• 1 hour 30 minutes total

Difficulty Level:

• 3 (moderate)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Scrub sweet potatoes clean. Poke each potato with a fork several times and wrap in foil. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until tender.
2. While sweet potatoes are baking, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes until softened. Add black beans, brown rice, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes longer.
3. Let baked sweet potatoes cool for 10 minutes before cutting them in half lengthwise. Scoop out the flesh, leaving about 1/2-inch thick shells.
4. Mash the sweet potato flesh with a fork or potato masher. Stir in the black bean mixture, vegan sour cream, and cilantro. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
5. Fill the sweet potato shells with the twice-baked mixture. Return to the oven and bake for 15 minutes longer, or until heated through.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 350 per serving
• Protein: 15g
• Fiber: 10g
• Fat: 10g
• Carbohydrates: 60g

Dish Characteristics:

• Savory and flavorful
• Creamy and tender
• Healthy and plant-based
• Perfect for a main course or side dish

User Comments:

• "These sweet potatoes were absolutely delicious! The filling was savory and the potatoes were so creamy."
• "I loved the combination of sweet and savory flavors. The black beans and brown rice added a nice texture."
• "This dish was easy to make and so impressive. My guests raved about it!"

Special Precautions and Tips:

• To make sure the sweet potatoes are cooked evenly, rotate them in the oven halfway through baking.
• If you don't have vegan sour cream on hand, you can use regular dairy sour cream or a plant-based yogurt.
• You can add other ingredients to the filling, such as sautéed mushrooms, chopped nuts, or shredded vegan cheese.