Sweet Potato Herb Paté Food

SWEET OR SAVORY PATE A CHOUX

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Boil water, butter, and salt or sugar. Add flour and remove from heat. Work mixture together and return to heat. Continue working the mixture until all flour is incorporated and dough forms a ball. Transfer mixture into bowl of a standing mixer and let cool for 3 or 4 minutes. With mixer on stir or lowest speed add eggs, 1 at a time, making sure the first egg is completely incorporated before continuing. Once all eggs have been added and the mixture is smooth put dough into piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe immediately into golfball-size shapes, 2 inches apart onto parchment lined sheet pans. Cook for 10 minutes, then turn the oven down to 350 degrees F and bake for 10 more minutes or until golden brown. Once they are removed from the oven pierce with a paring knife immediately to release steam.

RED LENTIL & SWEET POTATO PâTé

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and cook slowly until soft and golden. Tip in the paprika and cook for a further 2 mins, then add the sweet potato, lentils, thyme and stock. Bring to a simmer, then cook for 20 mins or until the potato and lentils are tender.
• Add the vinegar and some seasoning, and roughly mash the mixture until you get a texture you like. Chill for 1 hr, then drizzle with olive oil, dust with the extra paprika and sprinkle with thyme sprigs, if you like. Serve with pitta bread and vegetable sticks.

SUNFLOWER & POTATO HERB PATE (VEGAN)

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Oil or line a loaf tin. It can be tricky to get out so I like to use parchment at least on the bottom.
• Place all ingredients except the topping into a food processor and blend until a uniform consistency. It won't be smooth like batter, but the pieces will be very small and everything will be incorporated. Adjust seasoning to taste.
• Spoon into prepared loaf tin and smooth out as best you can. Top with sprinkles of more dried basil and sesame seeds.
• Bake for 40 minutes. Allow to cool for at least 5-10 minutes before you try to turn it out of the pan. Nice served at room temperature or cold.

SPICY SWEET POTATO HUMMUS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the sweet potatoes onto a baking tray and drizzle over 1 tbsp olive oil. Sprinkle over the chilli flakes, if using, and the paprika, then toss to coat in the spiced oil. Spread out to a single layer. Trim away the root of the garlic cloves, then nestle these among the sweet potatoes. Roast for 30-35 mins until the potatoes have softened, tossing halfway through.
• Remove the tray from the oven and leave to cool completely. Tip the sweet potatoes into a food processor and squeeze in the garlic from its skin. Add the tahini and lemon juice, then blitz for 1 min until the potatoes have broken down.
• With the motor running, gradually pour in the remaining olive oil. Continue to blitz for up to 4 mins, or until you have a smooth paste. Pour in 50-60ml cold water to loosen, blitz again to combine, then season to taste. Spoon the hummus into a bowl and swirl with the back of a teaspoon, then drizzle over a little more olive oil and scatter with extra chili flakes, if you like. Serve with your choice of veg crudités, breadsticks or crackers and olives for dunking.

HERB ROASTED SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a zip lock bag toss the sweet potatoes in the oil, thyme, garlic and pepper flakes.
• Transfer to a rimmed cookie sheet.
• Garnish with thyme sprigs and bake until tender, approximately 45 minutes.
• Serve hot.