Oaxacan Buddha Bowl with Roasted Sweet Potato

This bowl is delicious and with any seasonal vegetables, but sweet potato is a perfect complement to the earthy and mildly spicy sauce.

OAXACAN BUDDHA BOWL WITH ROASTED SWEET POTATO [VEGAN]

INGREDIENTS

RICE:

• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 2 cups water
• 1 tablespoon oil
• pinch salt

BLACK BEANS:

• 1 pound dried black beans, rinsed and picked over
• 8 medium cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1 yellow onion, peeled and sliced in half, with enough of the root end intact that the onion doesn’t fall apart
• Kosher salt

WHOLE ROASTED POBLANO:

• 3-4 whole poblanos

ROASTED SWEET POTATOES:

• 2 medium sweet potatoes

AGAVE-LIME CABBAGE SLAW:

• 2 cups shredded green or red cabbage
• 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
• 2 tablespoons agave
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• pinch salt

CASHEW CREMA:

• 1 cups cashews
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 cup water (+ more as needed)
• 1 teaspoons salt

GUAJINA SAUCE:

• 1 cup white pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• 1 dried guajillo chile, stemmed and seeded
• 1/2 cup dried avocado leaves*, loosely packed
• 1 cup water + more as desired
• 1 teaspoon salt + more to taste

PREPARATION

RICE:

1. Place the rice in medium bowl and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Using your hands, gently swish the grains to release any excess starch. Carefully pour off the water, leaving the rice in the bowl.
2. Repeat four times, or until the water runs almost clear. Using a fine mesh strainer, drain the rice.
3. In a medium pot, bring the water, butter, salt, and rice to a boil. Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid, then turn the heat down to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes, until all of the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
4. If the rice is still too firm, add a few more tablespoons of water and continue cooking for a few minutes more.
5. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve

BLACK BEANS:

1. Place beans in a large pot and add water until beans are submerged by 3 to 4 inches. Add the garlic and onion.
2. Cover and place over high heat until water comes to a boil, then uncover pot and reduce heat to a bare simmer.
3. Cook until beans are completely tender and creamy, 1 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, and adding water if tops of beans become exposed.
4. Remove onion halves. Increase heat to medium and simmer, stirring frequently, until reduced to a thick, creamy sauce that clings to the beans, about 10 minutes.
5. Season to taste with salt. Serve over rice or as a side with fresh cilantro and a dash or two of hot sauce.

WHOLE ROASTED POBLANOS:

1. If you have a gas range, place the whole poblano directly on top of the open flame and allow to cook until the skin turns completely black. You will need to use tongs to turn the poblanos so you can evenly blacken all sides of the chile.
2. Make sure to have the ventilation turned on above your stove to take away any fumes!
3. When the chiles are blackened, remove them from the stove and allow to cool.
4. Once cool enough to touch, carefully peel away the black skin, being careful not to tear the chile.
5. Once the skin is clean, carefully cut along the length of the chile and remove the inner seeds. Try to keep the stem on the chile for a nice presentation. Set aside cleaned and seeded chiles until ready to serve.

ROASTED SWEET POTATO:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.
2. Oil a small sheet pan and place the whole sweet potatoes on it.
3. Place the sheet tray in the center of the oven and allow to bake for 40-50 minutes, or until fork tender.
4. When slightly cooled, remove the skin from the sweet potatoes and slice.
5. Set aside until ready to serve.
6. These can be made ahead of time and simply re-heated before serving.

AGAVE-LIME CABBAGE SLAW:

1. In a mixing bowl, toss the shredded cabbage and cilantro with the agave, lime juice and sea salt shortly before serving.

CASHEW CREMA:

1. Blend cashew ingredients until smooth in a blender.

GUAJINA SAUCE:

1. Toast the avocado leaves in a hot, dry skillet or heated comal, pressing lightly with a spatula, or, using tongs, pass them over a live flame for about 10 seconds. Toasting heats up the natural oils in the leaves and brings out the licorice flavor. For this reason it is best only to toast what you will use in a particular recipe, toasting afresh for each use.
2. Set your oven at 350°F. Toast the pumpkin seeds in a sheet pan for 5-10 minutes or until lightly toasted.
3. Place the pepitas, guajillo chile, avocado leaves, water and salt in a blender, and puree until smooth.
4. *Oaxacan avocado leaves are available in specialty latin markets, but may not be available in your area. You can also use a combination of bay leaves and cracked anise seed as a substitute for avocado leaves.

TO ASSEMBLE:

1. To assemble the bowl, place some of the rice and black beans in the bottom of a bowl. Top with some of the roasted sweet potato, 1 or 2 whole roasted poblano, and a few tablespoons cashew crema and guajina sauce. Top with cabbage slaw and a few more roasted pepitas as garnish if desired. If you have some cherry tomatoes, these make a wonderful topping as well!

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/oaxacan-buddha-bowl-roasted-sweet-potato-vegan/?utm_source=Green+Monster+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=d8d5bd244e-NEWSLETTER_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bbf62ddf34-d8d5bd244e-106919241