Sweet potatoes are my very favorite dirt candy! In this South Indian Sweet Potato Curry, bold spices are simmered with carrots, cauliflower, spinach, and (of course!) sweet potatoes.
So far, 2016 has been a meat-free year for me. Crazy, right? I’m completely loving it, and here’s why:
LESS:
Dishes – I can keep using the same knife and cutting board all day and not have to worry about cross contamination!
Environmental ramifications – I love knowing that I’m reducing my impact on the environment.
Menu stress – It is SO much easier for me to order off a menu now that I have less options. I thought I’d hate that, but it’s actually really, really nice.
MORE:
Variety – Yep, I’m actually eating a wider variety of foods now that I cut out meat! I’m having lots of fun with vegetables I used to never eat (like beets! radishes! squash!), nuts and seeds, and creative sauces. Oh, and SO much avocado. On everything.
Energy – I don’t get tired after meals anymore. Crazy, right? I’m also sleeping better at night, which means I require less coffee during the day just to get things done.
Pride – Personally, I think it feels great knowing that I’m putting so many more plants into my body. It makes me feel like I’m taking care of myself 🙂
This has been quite the adventure so far, and I think my favorite part has been using my imagination to come up with fun meals that don’t include meat.
I’ve been making this South Indian-style Sweet Potato Curry on repeat for the past few weeks, and I ADORE it. I just serve it with some basmati rice and a little bit of naan.
This hearty and nutritious meal comes together really quickly. I know that the ingredient list looks long, but just trust me when I tell you that it is WORTH it!
I buy my wild lime leaves at a local international supermarket, but I’ve seen them at Whole Foods, too. If you can’t find any, just omit it from this recipe. BUT if you happen to come across some, go ahead and buy a bunch because they freeze well and add a very special flavor. I also use them in Thai curry recipes and even in some of my cocktail recipes.
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South Indian Sweet Potato Curry Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 yellow onion - cut into chunks (about 1 cup)
- 2 large clove garlic - peeled
- 1 ” peeled fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons melted ghee*
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 Thai bird’s eye chili - seeded
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 kaffir lime leaf
- 3/4 pound sweet potatoes - peeled, cut into 1” cubes
- 2 cups cauliflower florets
- 1 cup chopped carrot
- 2 small tomatoes - cored and chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups baby spinach leaves
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Place the onion, garlic, ginger, oil, garam masala, cumin, cardamom, and chili in the bowl of a food processor and puree until a paste forms. Transfer the mixture to a large pot and set the burner to medium heat. Cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes until the mixture darkens and becomes aromatic. Add the tomato paste and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Add the broth, brown sugar, and lime leaf to the pot. Scrape the brown bits up from the bottom of the pot and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the yams, cauliflower, carrot, tomatoes, salt and pepper to the pot. Allow it to come to a boil over medium heat, and then reduce heat to medium low. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 8-12 minutes. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Discard the lime leaf and season with additional salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves and serve with cooked basmati rice.
NOTES
Nutrition
I love this recipe – although we like it with a bit more heat so going to add either hotter chilli or some paste to give it a kick.
I would like to know if I can freeze the curry paste please before cooking?
Hi Wendy, yes you can make and freeze this paste before cooking. In fact, you can see how I did something similar here using ice cube trays: https://thewanderlustkitchen.com/easy-homemade-red-curry-paste/ – Linda
This has been a regular fall back recipe with me over the years. I live to pair the sweet potato with sweet Japanese pumpkin. Just awesome!