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Overhead view of eight baked enchiladas under red chipotle sauce and browned cheese, topped with cilantro

Oven-Baked Smoky Black Bean Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Roast sweet potatoes at 220 C / 425 F, fold them with black beans into 8 corn tortillas, and bake under chipotle sauce at 190 C / 375 F for 20 minutes.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Calories: 191

Ingredients
  

Filling
  • 450 g sweet potatoes peeled, cut into 1.5 cm cubes (about 2 small)
  • 75 g yellow onion (1/2 medium); diced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt
  • 1 can black beans (400 g / 15 oz); drained and rinsed
  • 120 g pepper jack cheese (1 cup); shredded, divided
  • 1 tbsp lime juice about 1/2 lime
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
  • 8 corn tortillas 15 cm / 6-inch
Chipotle red sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 can tomato sauce (425 g / 15 oz)
  • 180 ml vegetable broth (3/4 cup)
  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo finely chopped
  • 1 tsp adobo sauce from the can
  • 1/4 tsp fine salt
To serve
  • 1 avocado sliced
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
  • 4 lime wedges from the other lime half

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 220 C / 425 F with a rack in the middle. On a 33 x 46 cm / 13 x 18 inch sheet pan lined with parchment, toss the sweet potato cubes and diced onion with 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp cumin, and 1/2 tsp salt. Spread in a single layer and roast for 22 minutes, stirring once at 12 minutes, until the edges are browned and a fork slides in easily.
  2. While the vegetables roast, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a 3-quart / 2.8 L saucepan over medium heat. Cook the garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant, then stir in the chili powder, 1 tsp cumin, and 1 tsp smoked paprika for 20 seconds. Add the tomato sauce, broth, chopped chipotle, adobo sauce, and 1/4 tsp salt. Simmer for 12 minutes, stirring now and then, until it coats the back of a spoon.
  3. Remove the sweet potatoes and lower the oven to 190 C / 375 F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the roasted vegetables, black beans, 60 g of the cheese, lime juice, and 2 tbsp cilantro. Press with a fork to mash about a quarter of the beans and a few potato cubes so the filling holds together but stays chunky.
  4. Spread 120 ml / 1/2 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 23 x 33 cm / 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Wrap the tortillas in a damp kitchen towel and microwave for 45 seconds until they bend without cracking. Spoon about 1/3 cup (90 g) filling down the center of each tortilla, roll snugly, and set seam side down in the dish, packing all 8 side by side.
  5. Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas, covering the tortilla ends, and sprinkle with the remaining 60 g cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 12 minutes. Uncover and bake 8 minutes more, until the sauce bubbles at the edges and the cheese is melted with browned spots.
  6. Rest the dish for 5 minutes. Top with sliced avocado and 2 tbsp cilantro, and serve with lime wedges.

Notes

  • Cut sweet potatoes into 1.5 cm cubes so they cook evenly in 22 minutes.
  • Warm corn tortillas in a damp towel before rolling to prevent cracking.
  • Add the top cheese just before baking, even when assembling a day ahead.
  • Enchiladas are done when the sauce bubbles at the edges and the cheese is melted with browned spots.