Yam/ Sweet Potato Salad

You could either use Yams or use Sweet Potatoes for this salad. It can be had as a snack or a meal by itself.

Ingredients:

1. 6 Yams or 6 Sweet Potatoes, scrubbed, cleaned, peeled and cubed.
2. 2 teaspoon Red chilli powder
3. 1/2 teaspoon Salt or adjust according to your taste.
4. 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper powder.
5. 1/2 teaspoon Olive oil
Toss all the above ingredients (from 1 to 5) together and mix well.
5. Pam Spray

Preheat Oven at 350°F for 10 mins. Grease the baking tray with a coat of lite Pam spray. After 10 mins, place the cubed Yams/ Sweet potatoes for another 30 mins or until tender.

6. 2 Red bell peppers- roast them directly on the burner till the skin turns black & the flesh gets soft & juicy. After they get done, let stand for 10 to 15 mins in a bowl to cool, covered with a Saran wrap. Then chop them into 1 inch pieces and keep them aside.

7. Take a can of "ready-to-eat" baked black beans, rinse them well & drain. Keep aside.

After 30 mins take out the tray from the oven & let the sweet potatoes cool down.

Dressing:

1. 1 teaspoon Curry powder
2. 1 teaspoon Cumin Powder
3. 1 teaspoon Red Chilli powder/ Cayanne Powder
4. 2 teaspoon fatfree maple syrup
5. 3/4th a cup of fresh lemon juice
6. 1/2 teaspoon salt
7. 1/2 teaspoon black pepper powder
8. Fresh grated ginger about 1 teaspoon
9. 1/2 a cup of chopped, fresh scallions
10. 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive (EVOO)oil
11. 1/2 a cup of chopped Cilantro leaves
12. Large lettuce leaves

Whisk the above ingredients from 1 to 8 for a minute. In the end add the EVOO slowly into the mixture while still whisking.

Pour the dressing onto the baked yams/ Sweet potato cubes. Add the roasted red bell peppers, chopped scallions, baked black beans and toss lightly to combine. Arrange lettuce leaves on individual plates or on a large serving platter and mound the salad on top. Garnish with the chopped Cilantro leaves just before serving.

Note: If preparing the salad the night before, reserve about a third of the dressing. Bring the salad to room temperature and stir in the remainder of the dressing.