Sweet Potato Corn Cakes With Tamarind Bacon Avocado Recipes

SWEET POTATO CORN CAKES W/GARLIC DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Begin by cooking the sweet potatoes. The fastest way to do this is in the microwave. Prick the skin of each potato with a fork. Wrap one potato in a paper towel, place it on a plate, and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Carefully remove it from the microwave, squeeze it to make sure it's soft in the center, and the allow it cool as you cook the next one. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them open and scoop the flesh into a large bowl.
• Slice the green onions and roughly chop a handful of cilantro (about ⅛th of a bunch). Add the green onions, cilantro, frozen corn kernels, salt, cumin, and cayenne pepper to the bowl with the cooked sweet potatoes. Stir until well combined. You can taste it at this point and adjust the seasoning as desired.
• Add the breadcrumbs, cornmeal, and egg to the bowl. These ingredients will bind the mixture together and keep it from falling apart while cooking. Stir until evenly combined. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the breadcrumbs to absorb moisture.
• While the sweet potato mixture is refrigerating, mix up the garlic sauce. In a small bowl combine the yogurt, one clove of well minced garlic, and a handful of cilantro leaves (roughly chopped). Stir until combined and then refrigerate until ready to serve.
• After the sweet potato mixture has refrigerated, it's time to cook. Add enough vegetable oil to fully cover the bottom of a medium skillet. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until the surface appears wavy (if it begins to smoke, remove it from the burner immediately and turn down the heat). Shape the sweet potato mixture into small patties (about 2-3 Tbsp each) and cook about 4 at a time in the hot oil. Cook until golden brown on each side; about 2 minutes per side. After cooking, place on a paper towel covered plate to drain. Add more oil to the skillet as needed.

CORN CAKES WITH AVOCADO SALSA

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour, egg, corn and half the onions with some seasoning, then mix well. Mix the avocado with the remaining onions, lime juice, coriander and seasoning, then set aside.
• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a non-stick frying pan. Drop tbsps of the corn mixture into the frying pan, smoothing them down to form cakes. Cook for about 2-3 mins on each side over a medium heat, adding the remaining oil if you need to. Serve hot with the avocado salsa, lime wedges and some warm refried beans.

SWEET POTATO & CORN CAKES WITH TAMARIND BACON & AVOCADO

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prick the sweet potatoes and potato with a knife and roast them until soft - about 45 mins-1 hr for the potato and 40-50 mins for the sweet potato, turning them halfway through. Remove from the oven, leave until cool enough to handle, then scoop the potato flesh out of the skins and lightly mash together but not so it's smooth - keep it chunky.
• While the potatoes are cooking, scoop the avocado into a bowl and mash lightly. Add half of the spring onions, the scotch bonnet, if using, the lime juice and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Keep chilled until ready to serve.
• If using fresh corn, slice the kernels from the cob and boil in a pan of salted water for 3 mins. Rinse with cold water to cool. Add the sweetcorn to the potato mix, with the remaining spring onions and some salt and pepper. Gently mix, then take a handful the size of a tomato. Roll on your worktop, then flatten slightly until it is about 1-inch thick. Repeat until all the mixture is used up, you should have around 12-14 cakes. Put the cassava flour in a shallow bowl and gently drop the cakes in, one by one, then roll lightly to coat with the flour.
• Mix the tamarind and honey with 1 tbsp warm water until fully dissolved. Warm a frying pan over a medium heat and add the bacon. After 1 minute, brush the tamarind mixture over the top side and turn, brushing the other side with a little more of the mixture. At first it will look as though the bacon is boiling, but keep adding the mixture and turning two more times, and it will start to caramelise. Once nicely browned on both sides, remove from the pan and keep warm.
• Put the oil in a non-stick frying pan, enough so the oil will come halfway up the cakes. Heat over a medium-high heat and fry the cakes for 3-4 mins each side until golden brown. Drain on kitchen paper and keep warm while you cook the remaining cakes. To serve, pile two or three cakes onto each plate alongside some mashed avocado and put two slices of bacon on top. Serve 2 tbsp each of the soured cream on the side, if you like.