These sweet potato kale bites are like mini muffins of sweet potato, kale and black beans. They’re a great make ahead side dish to have on hand.
Currently, my fridge is like that closet you never use in your house and shove every random item that needs to be stored in and then fear for your life when opening it not knowing what random thing is going to fall on your head. Except, it’s my fridge and I open it approximately 136 times a day not twice a year.
There were no less than 3 fallen tupperware containers yesterday alone. Prepping large amounts of food ahead of time is kind of a blessing and a curse like that. I love having healthy stuff on hand but not so much the container of black bean quinoa hitting my foot and bouncing across the kitchen floor.
These are the newest added danger to the fridge assortment. Sweet potato “bites” stuffed with kale and black beans.
I have two categories of bookmarked stuff. Stuff that is a great idea, file it for later or when I’m in the mood for it (that list is incredibly long) and stuff that absolutely must be made now. These fell into the latter category after seeing Ashley’s salt & vinegar potatoes. While I love the salt & vinegar combo, I didn’t think it would work as well with sweet potatoes and that’s all I had on hand. So, I switched it up a bit because I knew they would be a great healthy starch to have for the entire week and leave one less thing to decide upon when putting a quick midday meal together. I’ve definitely noticed my creativity with meals decreasing now that I’m eating 5-6 a day. I just don’t have the energy or time to think of fun new ideas each and every time. Cooking and baking in bulk has become my saving grace.
These have literally been on my plate 5 out of the last 8 meals.
Perfectly sized, sweet with a crunchy top and stuffed with greens. Doesn’t get much better than that for a quick and easy side dish.
Sweet Potato Kale Bites
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled & cubed
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 4 cups kale, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 yellow onion, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained & rinsed
- salt & pepper
- ground flax seed for topping
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Boil cubed potatoes for about 15 minutes until fork tender.
- Drain potatoes and mash them in a large bowl with milk.
- Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add olive oil, garlic, onion and red pepper and saute for about 1 minute.
- Add kale and saute until wilted.
- Once kale is wilted, add to the bowl with sweet potatoes.
- Season liberally with salt & pepper to taste.
- Fold in black beans until incorporated.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Grease a mini muffin pan.
- Scoop potato mixture into a mini muffin tray until filled to the top.
- Sprinkle tops with ground flax seed.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, turn oven to hi-broil and broil for an additional 5 minutes until tops are golden and crunchy.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
- Carefully remove from muffin tin with the help of a spoon or knife. Bites will be soft but should retain enough structure to stay in mini muffin form.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Inspired and adapted from Edible Perspective
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Love your spin on these!!
This looks outstanding. Do you have any nutrition amounts for this? I journal on My Fitness Pal and would like to know calories, etc. :) I’m excited to try this soon! Thanks!
Hi Lisa, I don’t actually. But I’ve used the nutritional calculator on sparkpeople before and it’s pretty easy to plug the ingredients in and find out!
I love it when you post balls =)
Seriously though these are freaking adorable! and look soooo gooood!
Oh My Goodness! YES!! I will definitely be making these ASAP. So many of my most favorite things together in one bite? Sounds like heaven. Loving this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
My fridge, freezer, and cabinets are the same way!! I actually broke the 2 weeks ago fridge because it was so full….I was embarrassed to put in that work order with our landlord.
Love this recipe. Can’t wait to try it.
I love black beans and sweet potato together. I can’t wait to try these!
Wow! So healthy and so so delicious! Love this recipe, thanks for sharing :)
ok, the second i saw this, i knew this was going to be phenomenal. i love the ingredients in this and they’re so healthy!! no guilt at all eating these balls!
I am loving sweet potato and kale lately. I’ve made sweet potato kale pizza and kale stuffed sweet potatoes. This looks awesome.
These would make one amazing afternoon snack… :)