Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus

One of nature’s best sources of beta carotene is about to hit your cracker! Sweet potatoes are also an excellent source of antioxidants due to the properties of Sporamins, a storage protein contained in sweet potatoes. Reducing oxidative damage to cells is certainly a bonus of a nutritious snack! Add fiber, good fats, and great flavor, and you have yourself a winner. It’s the perfect way to keep a healthy snack handy for family snacking throughout the week.
Sweet Potato Hummus Recipe - Peaks Coaching Group

Sweet Potato Hummus

Makes 3-4 cups (roughly 9 servings)

Ingredients

  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups cooked chickpeas (or one can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained)
  • 3 tablespoons tahini
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • zest of 1/2 lemon
  • ground sea salt to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (start with less and season to your preferred level of spice)
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin
  • Sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the sweet potatoes on the middle oven rack or in a baking dish for 45-60 minutes. When fully cooked, they should yield to a gentle squeeze.

While the potatoes are cooling, toss all the other ingredients into a food processor. If you’re sensitive to spice, you may want to save the spices for last and add them to taste.

Once the potatoes have cooled enough to handle, use a knife or your fingers to peel off the skin (be careful in case they’re still hot). Add the potatoes to the food processor and blend well.

Garnish with a sprinkle of sesame seeds if desired and serve with veggies or pita bread. Keeps well in the fridge for a week.

Nutrition Info
per serving

130 calories
13 grams carbohydrates
3 grams protein
7 gram fats
3 grams fiber

Note: 10 rice crackers contain approximately 60 calories, so a serving of rice crackers with a serving of hummus makes a snack of 190-200 calories.

Want expert help with your nutrition? Click here to find out how we can help! You can also check out our pre-made meal plans and our eBook on post-workout recovery nutrition.


Anne Guzman is a PCG nutritionist, a registered holistic nutritionist, and a sports nutrition consultant with a degree in kinesiology. Her passion lies in sports nutrition for endurance athletes, as well as general health and wellness. Anne raced full time on the women’s professional circuit in North America with some bouts in Europe from 2008 until 2011, and before cycling was a provincial and CIAU champion and national bronze medalist as a Varsity Freestyle Wrestler. Currently Anne works with athletes to help them reach their potential by combining their own training plans with her nutrition plans. Anne believes that many athletes undermine their intense detailed training regimes by not backing them with sound nutrition. Her personal experience as a cyclist and athlete is a great asset to her business as she understands the needs and nuances that come with the sport. Anne can be contacted through PeaksCoachingGroup.com or at info@peakscoachinggroup.com. Read more nutrition advice on her blog.

Photo credit: BettyCrocker.com