Books & Spoons Recipe for SWEET POTATO & BLACK BEAN CASSEROLE

SWEET POTATO & BLACK BEAN CASSEROLE

• 600 g of sweet potatoes (1,3 lb)
• 1 TBSP butter to coat the pan with
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 150 g of grated cheese

The Bean Mix

• 1 tetra/can of preserved black beans (400 g)
• 1 TBSP of olive oil
• 1 tsp of salt
• 0.5 tsp of thyme
• 0.5 tsp of basil
• 0.5 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat the oven to 225C/435F degrees. 
2. Prepare the Bean Mix
3. Pour the preserved black beans into the sieve. 
4. Rinse the beans with cold water and drip-dry them 
5. Put the beans in a bowl and season with oil and spices. Set it aside.
6. Peel the sweet potatoes and split them in half lengthwise. 
7. Put the cutting surface on the cutting board and slice the sweet potatoes as thinly as possible with a sharp knife.
8. Grease the casserole pan with the butter
9. Lay the sweet potato pieces into the casserole pan.
10. Pour the bean mixture over and in between the sweet potato slices 
11. Sprinkle the casserole with olive oil and salt.
12. Bake at the bottom of the oven for 20 - 30 minutes 
13. Add the grated cheese and bake for another 10 - 15 minutes until cheese has melted and obtained a beautiful color.

This dish is not only delicious but it also looked so nice. It is a side dish, but I used it as the main course and with some steamed vegetables and a green salad on the side it was a filling and lovely meal.
Couple of notes to go with it:
- I would use half a sweet potato per serving for a side dish and a whole if used as a main course if that gives you a better visual how much you need
- If you have a mandoline, it is a perfect tool to cut the sweet potatoes with.
- The time in the oven is depended on the thickness of your sweet potato slices. Make sure the potatoes are done before serving.
- Interlocking the pieces of sweet potatoes makes the casserole not only look nice, it also makes the sweet potatoes cook faster.
- If the cheese you use is very salty, be careful with the amount of salt you use on top of the casserole before the first baking.
I really liked the subtle flavors of the herbs with the beans and sweet potatoes. I saw a picture of a dish like this on the internet, and I had to try to re-create it, and I admit, I was happy with the results. I hope you are as well.
'Till next time
~ Cheers!