Deconstructed Sweet Potato Taco

Team: All Fired Up!!

Host School: Williston Central School

Age Group: Middle School

Ingredients

INGREDIENTS

  • 14 ripe plum tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 medium white onion, finely chopped
  • 4 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
  • 10 sprigs of cilantro (leaves and tender stems), finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 1 cup and 2 teaspoon Kosher salt divided
  • 1/4 cup of fresh lime juice divided
  • 1⁄2 cup cilantro leaf, chopped (or more to taste!)
  • 2 -3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 2 Tbsp to 1/4 cup of minced red onion or thinly sliced green onion
  • A dash of freshly grated black pepper
  • 5 sweet potatoes
  • 1 ½ cups Chili seasoning
    • Chili peppers
    • Cumin
    • Coriander
    • Garlic Powder
    • Onion Powder
  • ½ cup Olive oil
  • 5 eggs for Waffle iron, 2 eggs for duchess

For presentation

  • 2 heads of lettuce
  • Sliced Black olives
  • Cabot Shredded Mexican Cheese
  • Hot sauce
  • Sour cream

Preparation Instructions

Directions:

  • Begin to make the Salsa- dice 8 Tomatoes and 1 small onion then chop 8 of the springs of cilantro.  
  • Mix these ingredients with 2 chilies, seeded, two tbs cooking oil and 1 tsp of salt in a bowl and mix thoroughly adding in ⅛ cup of lime juice.
  • Put in a bowl and set aside.
  • Begin making the Pico de Gallo- chop 4 tomatoes, 3 jalapenos and 1 small onion, cut up 1/2 cup of the cilantro and put all the ingredients in a bowl then add a sprinkle of salt to taste and mix in 1 tbsp lime juice. Set aside 
  • For the guacamole, Cut 2 of the chilis and remove the seeds than add the avocados with no skin or seeds.  
  • Add the 2 tbsp of cilantro, 1/4 cup of minced red onion, ½ tsp of salt a dash of black pepper and ½ cup chopped and seeded tomatoes for the guacamole in a bowl and mix. Set aside.

If using the waffle iron:

  • Making the Sweet Potato waffles: Wash and dice the sweet potatoes, boil them with ¼ a cup of salt (¼ = 1 sweet potatoes)..
  • Drain the water, put it in a mixing bowl, and mash the sweet potatoes until smooth.
  • Mix in the eggs and chili seasoning. Put on a ¼ of a cup of the sweet potato mixture onto the waffle iron. Remove when finished.

If not using a waffle iron, create duchess sweet potatoes:

  • Making the Duchess Sweet potatoes: Wash, peel, and dice the sweet potatoes, boil them with 1 a cup of salt (¼ = 1 sweet potatoes).
  • Drain the water, put it in a mixing bowl, and mash the sweet potatoes until smooth.
  • Mix the chili seasoning and eggs until well combined. Scoop mixture into a piping bag and pipe onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Form sweet potatoes into a bowl shape, or flat base.
  • Place in 375 degree oven for 25 min or until golden brown on the edges. Remove from the oven. 
  • One you have all your components make a grid of hot sauce and sour cream on a circular white plate. Add chopped lettuce on top, then put the sweet potato waffle (or duchess) over it.  
  • Garnish with black olives, mexican cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo and salsa.  
  • Present.