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Maple, black bean sweet potatoes with sesame broccoli and zucchini noodles

Name: Maple, black bean sweet potatoes with sesame broccoli and zucchini noodles
Yield: Serves 2
Ingredients: 4 small (or 2 large) sweet potatoes peeled, sliced 1/2\" thick; 1 large shallot, minced; 1 garlic clove, minced; 2 tablespoons fermented black beans, rinsed, chopped; 2 tablespoons grated ginger (I keep it frozen and use a microplane); 1 tablespoon orange zest; 1 lapsang souchong teabag; 2 tablespoons soy sauce; 2 tablespoons dry sherry; 2 tablespoons maple syrup; cilantro for garnish; 2 zucchinis, sliced into noodles, salted, rinsed, patted dry; 1 head broccoli, cut into large florets; 2 tablespoons sesame seeds; 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup; 1 tablespoon brown rice vinegar; 1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce; 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil; oil (light olive or walnut)

by: savorthis

March 23, 2012

0 Ratings

Maple, black bean sweet potatoes with sesame broccoli and zucchini noodles

Serves 2

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Author Notes

I had no dinner planned. I was in the middle of Meatless March. Pondering a pile of sweet potatoes and inspired by the maple syrup contest, I decided to modify the chinese bistro rib recipe from Gourmet making the sweet potatoes the star of the show. I changed the recipe (which had already morphed for me over time) to better highlight the sweet potatoes by adding orange zest and sweet shallots. But why stop there? Why not use maple syrup instead of sugar in my sesame vinaigrette? —savorthis

What You'll Need

Ingredients

Sweet Potatoes
4 small (or 2 large) sweet potatoes peeled, sliced 1/2" thick
1 large shallot, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons fermented black beans, rinsed, chopped
2 tablespoons grated ginger (I keep it frozen and use a microplane)
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 lapsang souchong teabag
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons dry sherry
2 tablespoons maple syrup
cilantro for garnish
2 zucchinis, sliced into noodles, salted, rinsed, patted dry

Directions

Brown the sweet potatoes in some oil and remove them to a bowl. Sautee in the same pan the shallot, garlic, black beans, ginger and zest until very aromatic.
Steep the tea in 1 cup boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove teabag and stir in soy, 2 T syrup and sherry. Simmer 5 minutes and add back the sweet potatoes. Cook over high heat until sauce is reduced to a glaze.
Meanwhile, cook broccoli florets in some oil over very high heat until charred in places. Add a splash of water, lower the heat and cover to steam until crisp tender.
For the sesame vinaigrette, toast 2 T sesame seeds in a dry pan for just a couple minutes until fragrant. Grind with a mortar and pestle and add remaining 1/2 T maple syrup, brown rice vinegar, chili garlic sauce and toasted sesame oil. Whisk together while adding a thin stream of oil until emulsified (about 1/4 c).
To serve, place a pile of zucchini on the plate and top with sweet potatoes. Drizzle vinaigrette over broccoli. Top with a sprinkle of cilantro.

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savorthis
LeBec Fin

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3 Reviews

savorthis March 25, 2012

Thanks! I've been going through that lapsang souchong tea like crazy, especially in tea eggs which are a recent obsession. I think the orange peel would also be great in the original incarnation with pork ribs or even lamb.

LeBec F. March 25, 2012

Seriously good thinking here.The touches- citrus and tea- seriously smart. And delicious to be sure. This is really inspiring, and so happy to see an excellent Asian entry.thx much!