Sweet Potato and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole: A Hearty, Vegetarian Delight
A layered casserole with sweet potatoes, black beans, and enchilada sauce, topped with cheese. Perfect for a hearty vegetarian meal.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course, Dinner
- Method: Baking, Steaming/Boiling
- Cuisine: Mexican-inspired, Southwestern
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups cubed sweet potatoes
- 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
- 1 cup enchilada sauce
- 8 corn tortillas, cut into strips
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures the casserole cooks evenly and the cheese melts properly.
- Cook the Sweet Potatoes: Steam or boil the cubed sweet potatoes until they are tender. This usually takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the cubes. Test the potatoes for doneness by piercing them with a fork. If the fork slides in easily, the potatoes are cooked.
- Prepare the Filling: In a large bowl, mix the cooked sweet potatoes, drained and rinsed black beans, cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir gently until all ingredients are well combined. Avoid mashing the sweet potatoes too much, as you want them to retain some texture.
- Assemble the Casserole: Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray or oil. This prevents the casserole from sticking to the dish and makes it easier to clean up. Layer half of the corn tortilla strips on the bottom of the dish, overlapping them slightly. Then, layer half of the sweet potato and black bean mixture evenly over the tortilla strips. Drizzle half of the enchilada sauce over the mixture. Repeat the layers with the remaining tortilla strips, sweet potato and black bean mixture, and enchilada sauce.
- Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded Mexican cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. Ensure that the cheese covers the entire surface of the casserole.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are golden brown. The cheese should be melted and slightly browned.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the layers to set and makes it easier to slice and serve. The casserole will also be very hot, so allowing it to cool slightly will prevent burns.
Notes
- Cut sweet potatoes into uniform cubes.
- Drain and rinse black beans.
- Layer ingredients evenly.
- Let casserole rest before serving.