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Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans and Quinoa

Ingredients 

For the Sweet Potatoes

6 small sweet potatoes about 8 ounces each

1/3 cup quinoa or 1 cup leftover cooked quinoa

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small yellow onion diced

1 small red bell pepper diced

1 jalapeno cored, seeded, and finely chopped

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 cloves garlic minced (about 2 teaspoons)

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 (15-ounce) can low-sodium black beans rinsed and drained

1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice from about 1 lime

1 cup shredded Monterey jack, pepper jack, or cheddar cheese divided

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Instructions 

Step 1. Bake the sweet potatoes: Place a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup. Scrub the sweet potatoes and pat dry. Prick the outsides all over with the tines of a fork. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake until fork tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on size. Remove from the oven and let rest until cool enough to handle. Leave the oven turned on.

Step 2. Meanwhile, cook the quinoa according to package instructions. You should have about 1 cup cooked total. Set aside.

Step 3. While the sweet potatoes bake and the quinoa cooks, prepare the filling. Heat the olive oil in a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium. Add the onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, and salt. Cook until the vegetables soften and the onion begins to brown, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, smoked paprika, and cumin. Stir to coat the vegetables in the spices, then cook until the spices are fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the black beans and quinoa. Remove from the heat. Stir in the Greek yogurt, lime juice, and 1/2 cup cheese. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired.

Step 4. Once the baked sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, make a slit in the top. With a fork, open the split and lightly fluff the insides to make space for the toppings. Place the sweet potatoes back on the baking sheet, then stuff with the quinoa–black bean mixture (you will have about 1/2 cup filling per potato). Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top, then return the sweet potatoes to the oven. Cook until the filling is heated through and the cheese melts, about 5 minutes. Enjoy hot, sprinkled with toppings of choice.

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