| Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 30 mins | Difficulty: Medium | Serves: 6 |
| kcal | fat | saturates | carbs |
| 360 | 12g | 2g | 52g |
| sugars | fibre | protein | salt |
| 9g | 8g | 10g | 0.7g |
Why I Love American Quinoa and Sweet Potato Salad Wraps
People often ask me why I enjoy creating recipes, and I usually answer with a story about a dish that truly encapsulates my culinary journey. Right now, that dish is the Quinoa and Sweet Potato Salad Wraps. This recipe holds a special place in my heart because it beautifully showcases the principles that I hold dear when it comes to food – a harmonious balance of textures and flavors, enriched by my Texan roots and my love for wholesome, hearty ingredients.
A Nod to the Classics
These wraps borrow their charm from the classic Southern salad wraps, yet come with a distinctive flair. The use of quinoa and sweet potato, two of my favorite superfoods, makes these salad wraps a nourishing and satisfying meal any time of the day. It reminds me of a dish I once tasted in the kitchen of Alice Waters, a chef who consistently emphasizes fresh, locally-grown, and sustainably-harvested ingredients in her cooking, much like the core ingredients of these wraps.
Versatility at Its Best
One of the things I love about this recipe for Quinoa and Sweet Potato Salad Wraps is its versatility. You can serve these wraps as a refreshing, light lunch or a hearty dinner, matched with a zesty, cool citrus punch or a tumbler of your preferred white wine. They would also pair beautifully with a rich, creamy soup like butternut squash or even a chunky chili for those cooler days.
These wraps aren’t just delicious; they’re a celebration of different textures and flavors – the nuttiness of quinoa, the sweetness of sweet potatoes, the freshness of the vegetables, and the tangy, vibrant dressing. Indeed, medleys like these are what food, at its core, is truly about. It’s all about bringing together diverse elements, much like how cultures come together to create our shared culinary landscape.
What You’ll Need
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 6 large lettuce leaves
- 1 cup black beans, cooked and drained
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Step One
Bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a medium-sized saucepan over high heat. Once it’s boiling, add the quinoa and reduce the heat to low. Cover and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked and all the liquid has been absorbed. Set it aside to let it cool.
Step Two
While the quinoa is cooking, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place the peeled and cubed sweet potatoes on a baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss the sweet potatoes to ensure they are evenly coated with the oil and seasoning. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until they are tender and golden brown. Once finished, set them aside to cool.
Step Three
In a large bowl, combine together the cooled quinoa, cooked sweet potatoes, black beans, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion and chopped parsley. Mix them well.
Step Four
For the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Adjust seasoning according to your taste if needed.
Step Five
Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Make sure all the ingredients are evenly coated.
Step Six
To assemble the wraps, lay out a large lettuce leaf and scoop a generous portion of the salad to the center. Carefully fold the lettuce leaf around the salad, tucking in the sides as you go, much like you would a burrito. Repeat with the remaining lettuce leaves and salad.
Step Seven
Enjoy your Quinoa and Sweet Potato Salad Wraps immediately, or refrigerate them for a later meal. They make a great healthy option for lunch or dinner!
