Search
These slightly spicy little croquettes ended up being an incredible impromptu lunch this afternoon. I’d originally planned on taking a stroll to the new crêpe cafe a few avenues over before moseying down to yoga… then I opened the front door. There’s something about freezing rain, heavy winds, and a high of 19 degrees that makes my brain scream “PASS!”
Funny how a touch of frosty weather can turn an adventurous spirit into a homebody like that.
What can I say? Sometimes a day in and alone is just perfect.
This simple meal was hearty, warm, and made an afternoon at home extra lovely. Spicy almond-vanilla tea and a Homeland marathon helped too.
It was also proof that if you really look hard enough, you can almost always make something amazing out of what you already have in your kitchen. And that feeling is one of the best around.
Roasted Sweet Potato and Spinach Croquettes – Baker by Nature
2 medium-large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2 inch wedges
4 tablespoons olive oil, separated
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cloves garlic, unpeeled
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons almond flour
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1 egg white
1 stalk of celery, finely diced
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1 cup fresh spinach leaves, finely chopped
1/2 cup mixed nuts (I used almonds, cashews, and brazil nuts), very finely chopped
Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F). Place chopped sweet potatoes on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for 20 minutes. Flip the potatoes and add the unpeeled garlic cloves to the baking sheet before returning to the oven for another 20 minutes. Once the potatoes are golden and very soft, remove from the oven and let cool at least 5 minutes. With a fork, potato masher, or electric mixer mash the potatoes and garlic until they’re completely pureed. Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees (F).
In a large bowl, combine the sweet potato puree with the remaining olive oil, maple syrup, chili powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, and almond flour. Lightly beat in egg white before folding in the lime juice, celery, red onion, and spinach. Mix well.
Spread the chopped nuts out on a large plate. Spoon out tablespoon sized balls of the potato mixture and gently roll in the nuts, before placing them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes, and serve immediately.
Screaming healthy to me and I think that covers your yoga pass!
Deliciously tempting 😉
Thanks, Gerry 🙂
Sister, at 19 degrees outside, I don’t blame you for staying in! Especially if it brought us these yummy sounding bites 🙂 I love those meals that come together from whatever random junk is in the pantry!
Random ingredient meals often turn out to be the best ones!
I like this a lot – I grew up eating Salmon and Chicken Croquettes and although they were kind of gross, still liked them. This is really elevated, clean and really interesting!
I never got into meat filled croquettes myself, but I’m loving veggie stuffed versions. Definitely a cleaner approach 😉
These croquettes look and sound awesome! I love your inventive spirit. Sometimes I am the same way, just being inspired by ingredients on hand instead of looking for recipes. Sometimes it’s great and sometimes my husband just looks at me wondering “What is that?” 😀
Ok – these look awesome my dear!!
Love this lunch idea! Roasting veggies is my favorite way to make them. Pinning!
Thanks, girl! I hope you try them. Such a fun and easy way to get your veggies!
I am an absolute sucker for anything sweet potatoes. You definitely did the right thing staying in and whipping up these beauties! You are inspiring me to see what I can come up with using only what I have at home.
I’m a sweet potato sucker, too! Especially when they’re a little spicy. Mmm!
These look amazing! I would happily eat these instead of spending my morning in downward dog!
Ha! I ended up doing an at home session after lunch, but staying home was 100% the right decision.
Maple…sweet potatoes and lime…my fave flavors together!
Such a powerful flavor combo, right?!
These look PERFECT Ashley! Please come make them when you visit 🙂
sweet potatoes are my very fave. i’m a sucker for anything with them. especially with nuts involved! I sprinkles pecans on my roasted sweet potatoes. 🙂 These are adorable. a must make!
mmm, i would totally eat these in lieu of working out. 🙂 roasted sweet potatoes are the way to go!
So healthy and packed full of flavor. These sound terrific and I’ve been staying inside too! Brrr!
The very reason that I love the cold so much, is that it gives me an excuse to surrender to my natural instinct to potter around the house! There’s nothing like a good chill to make staying at home seem perfectly viable.
These look AMAZING. How inventive you are! I do agree with you though, sometimes it just takes a little imagination to come up with something incredible with what you already have in your kitchen. Oh, and I haven’t started watching Homeland yet, but everyone is telling me that I must!
Wow!! I’ve never seen this mixture–these loook so yummy! Can’t wait to try.
beingisbeautiful.org
xo
Your a snacking genius my friend, these are brilliant 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
I think my sister and I are making these tonight. We will be serving them with lots of wine! can’t wait!
sometimes a day in is as vital as a night out. and that’s my favorite kind of marathon! 😉
I love staying in on cold days! And too hot ones, rainy ones… there’s just something so perfect about staying in and enjoying your home once in a while.
These sound amazing. Can’t wait to try them!
Do you have any leftovers? If so, I’ll be on the next plane to NY. 😉 These look great. I could pop ’em like candy.
wow amazing!!!
These look amazing! I love anything with sweet potatoes – they’re my fave!
I’d pair them with a spicy sriracha aioli and call it a night! These look so perfectly poppable.
I know what you mean. The cold temps in Seattle makes it hard to leave your apartment but with these tasty croquettes in arms reach, I wouldn’t want to. Yum!
I’ve been looking for new things to make with sweet potatoes and these sound really delicious! Yum… yum… and more yum!
I love roasted sweet potatoes, these would make a great appetizer!
I have both ingredients right now – it’s Japanese sweet potatoes tho but I am intrigued to try these. I love croquettes. One of my favorite food!