It’s time to fall into the next season.

With autumn comes sweaters, pumpkin patches, falling leaves, and of course, favorite fall recipes. Betsy DiJulio shares a special recipe from her new cookbook The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes to jumpstart the season’s flavorful collection of meals.

Photo courtesy of Betsy DiJulio, The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes, Vegan Heritage Press (2011)

Sweet Potatoes Caribbean
Yield: 4 servings

A childhood favorite inspired this recipe. My mom used to serve mashed sweet potatoes on a ring of pineapple with a marshmallow baked on top. I borrowed that presentation for my tropical take on a Southern staple.

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice
2 teaspoons vegan butter
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon peanut butter
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoons fresh cilantro, minced
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 scallions, trimmed, split lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
Pineapple rings, for serving (optional)

1. Pour an inch of water into a 4-quart saucepan fitted with a steamer. Cover the pan and bring the water to a simmer. Place the sweet potatoes into the steamer insert, cover loosely, and steam for 10 minutes or until tender.

2. Mash by hand or press the potatoes through a ricer into a medium-size bowl. Add the vegan butter, peanut butter, lime juice, coconut milk, cumin, coriander, and cilantro, and combine well. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary. Fold in the scallions and mix until well distributed. To serve, transfer to a bowl and serve hot. Alternately, you can scoop the potatoes onto sliced fresh pineapple rings.

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From The Blooming Platter Cookbook by Betsy DiJulio. Copyright© 2011. Vegan Heritage Press. Used by permission.

Editor’s Note: The Blooming Platter Cookbook: A Harvest of Seasonal Vegan Recipes is available locally at Barnes & Noble stores, as well as Prince Books in Norfolk. It may also be ordered from Amazon.com. In plenty of time for holiday gift buying, Betsy will be at the Old Beach Farmer’s Market (OBFM) on Saturday, October, 15, from 9 a.m. to noon, to sell and sign books. Also, if you have previously purchased a book, feel free to bring it to have it personalized – a personalized copy of the book is a nice way to sweeten an already great gift. OBFM is located in the parking lot of Croc’s 19th Street Bistro in the heart of the Virginia Beach resort area near the Old Beach neighborhood. Walking or riding a bike to this outdoor market is encouraged, as is bringing a reusable shopping bag. Visit Betsy’s blog which features a continual infusion of new seasonal recipes at www.thebloomingplatter.com.

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