Loaded Sweet Potatoes with Barbecue Sauce

My newest book came out this week, The Microbiome Cookbook; 150 Delicious Recipes to Nourish Your Microbiome and Restore Your Gut Health. I am often asked what my favorite recipe is in each book I write, and this recipe for loaded sweet potatoes may be my favorite recipe of any book I've written. Think cowboy nachos without the cheese or corn chips. Seriously, I find a way to sneak some rendition of it onto my family's dinner menu nearly every week.

In The Microbiome Cookbook, the recipe calls for crumbled tempeh, which yields a gluten-free, vegetarian entree loaded with prebiotics, which give your gut bugs something to feast on, and probiotics to bolster the population of good bacteria.

I usually make it for Rich with tempeh. Personally, I prefer crumbled bacon, for a filling paleo entree. The smokiness of the bacon and barbecue sauce contrasted with the tangy coleslaw and caramelized sweet potatoes is addicting. I've also made it with other proteins, such as shredded chicken or spicy Italian sausage. It would also work with pan-seared tofu.

I will be chatting about The Microbiome Cookbook this weekend with Mimi Stoneburner on Body Talk Health show on K-Tip radio. It will stream live on Saturday, August 13, from 2 to 3PM Pacific. Or, you can catch it in the archives after it airs.

Until then, enjoy these recipes for Loaded Sweet Potatoes and Barbecue Sauce. Enjoy!

Loaded Sweet Potatoes with Barbecue Sauce

Serves 2 to 4

Prep time 15 minutes

Cook time 40 minutes

2 to 3 sweet potatoes, unpeeled

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

Sea salt

One 8-ounce package tempeh

1 cup Barbecue Sauce (recipe follows) or store bought sauce

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon ground cumin

4 cups shredded cabbage  

1.     Preheat the oven to 400°F.

1.     Slice the sweet potatoes lengthwise in ¼-inch-thick pieces. Place them on a sheet pan. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil and toss gently to coat. Season with salt. 

2.     Roast uncovered for 40 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned and the tops are shrunken.

3.     Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet. Crumble the tempeh and sauté over medium heat until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the barbecue sauce and cook until just heated through.

4.     In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lime juice, and cumin. Add the cabbage and toss to coat thoroughly.

5.     To serve, place the sweet potatoes into individual serving bowls. Top with a generous scoop of the tempeh and then the cabbage. Serve immediately. 

Barbecue Sauce

Yields 2 cups

Prep time 5 minutes 

Cook time 25 minutes 

Although it’s certainly easier to reach for a bottle of commercially prepared barbecue sauce, most are loaded with sugar or high fructose corn syrup, neither of which is good for a healthy gut. Try this naturally sweetened low-sugar version instead. 

1 yellow onion, minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

Sea salt

2 garlic cloves, minced

One 15-ounce can tomato sauce

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

2 fresh dates, pitted and diced

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon cayenne

Freshly ground pepper

1.     Cook the onion in a small sauce pan along with the olive oil and a pinch of sea salt until soft and nearly caramelized, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.

1.     Add all of the remaining ingredients and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes to allow all of the flavors to come together.

2.     Adjust seasoning. For a smooth consistency, use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. 

Quick Preserved Lemons

California lemon season lasts from December to May, though lemons may remain on the tree all year here if they're not picked. They're delicious juiced, zested, infused in wine, and whipped into lemon meringue pies. But I find that only goes so far in really maximizing the lemon harvest. Enter, preserved lemons.

Preserved lemons have a bright, briny flavor and chewy texture. They can be used in risotto, lemon and artichoke pasta, chopped with parsley for an out-of-this-world gremolata, and to make a boss harissa. They also make a perfect easy DIY Christmas gift. 
 
Some recipes call for preserving lemons for several weeks. Although the flavor does improve over time, you can begin using the lemons in as few as five days after preserving them. Here is my recipe for quick preserved lemons, loosely based on a recipe in the cookbook Gjelina by Travis Lett. My version is much smaller and designed for home kitchens. 

Yield 1/2 pint 

1 teaspoon coriander seed
1 teaspoon fennel seed
2 lemons, scrubbed
1/4 cup sea salt
1/4 teaspoon red chili flake 

1. Toast the coriander and fennel seed in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the red chili flake and set aside. 

2. Cut the lemons into wedges lengthwise. 

3. Pour one tablespoon of salt and a generous pinch of the spices into a perfectly clean mason jar. Squeeze the juice from two of the lemon wedges into the jar and swirl gently. Stuff the lemon rinds down into the salt and juice. 

4. Top with another tablespoon of salt and a pinch of spices. Squeeze the juice from another two lemon quarters into the jar and then add the rinds. Repeat until the jar is full and the lemon rinds are fully submerged in juice, finishing with salt and spices. You may end up using all of the juice but not having room for two of the lemon rinds. 

 
5. Cover with a clean lid and place in a cool dark place for five days before using. Refrigerate after opening.

Five-Spice Pork Sirloin Roast with Radicchio and Pear Sauce and Book Giveaway

On January 12, 2016, my new book Sheet Pan Paleo: 200 One-Tray Recipes for Quick Prepping, Easy Roasting, and Hassle-Free Cleanup comes out. Pre-order a copy of Sheet Pan Paleo from Barnes & Noble or Amazon. Or, enter to win a free copy of by entering the Goodreads Giveaway sponsored by my publisher. For now, here's one of my favorite recipes from the book.


Five-Spice Pork Sirloin Roast with Radicchio and Pear Sauce 

This recipe has all the warmth, sweetness, and spice you look for in a holiday dinner. If you’re comfortable eating dairy, add a few tablespoons of softened butter or ghee to the pear sauce for an extra layer of decadence.

Serves 4 to 6

Prep time: 15 minutes plus 4 to 6 hours for brining

Cook time: 50 to 60 minutes 

1½ tablespoons Chinese five-spice powder, divided

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons maple syrup or coconut palm sugar

2 tablespoons sea salt

Water

1 boneless pork sirloin roast, 2 to 3 pounds

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 head radicchio, sliced in wedges

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 pears, cored and sliced in wedges

2 tablespoons butter or ghee, optional

1.      Combine 1 tablespoon of the Chinese five-spice powder with the vinegar, maple syrup, and salt in a non-reactive deep dish. Add half a cup of hot water and whisk to combine. Add two cups of ice water. Submerge the pork roast in the brine, adding more water as needed to cover. Refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours.

2.      Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

3.      Remove the pork roast from the brine and pat dry with paper towels. Coat with 1 tablespoon of the oil to facilitate browning. Roast uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes per pound of meat. (e.g. For a 2-pound roast, cooking time would be between 50 and 60 minutes.)

4.      During the last 30 minutes of cooking, whisk together the vinegar, remaining oil, and remaining five-spice powder. Dredge the radicchio slices in the vinegar mixture and scatter across the sheet pan along with the pear slices. Return to the oven and roast uncovered until the pork is cooked through to an internal temperature of 145F.

5.      Remove the pork to a cutting board and cover with foil for 10 minutes before slicing.

6.      Place the pears in a blender along with any pan juices and butter or ghee if using and puree until smooth.

7.      Slice the meat on a bias and serve with the sauce and radicchio.

 Excerpted from the book Sheet Pan Paleo: 200 One-Tray Recipes for Quick Prepping, Easy Roasting, and Hassle-Free Cleanup, January 12, 2016, Ulysses Press, Berkley. 

Pre-order a copy of Sheet Pan Paleo from Barnes & Noble or Amazon. Or, enter to win a free copy of by entering the Goodreads Giveaway sponsored by my publisher.