Vegan purple sweet potato açaí boat

Vegan purple sweet potato açaí boat with açaí pulp, Medjool date, almond butter and nibbed almonds – creamy, fruity and naturally sweet.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 5 min
• Cooking time: 45 min
• Total time: 50 min
• Calories: 360 kcal per serving
• Protein: 5 g
• Fat: 8 g
• Carbs: 68 g

Ingredients

• 1 sweet potato
• 1 block of açaí pulp (100 g, unsweetened)
• 1 Medjool date
• 1 spoonful of almond butter
• 2 tbsp nibbed almonds

Method

You’ll need: oven · stick blender

1. Wash the purple sweet potato thoroughly, prick it lengthways and bake in the oven at 200 °C (180 °C fan) for 45–60 min until soft.
2. Meanwhile, let the açaí block thaw slightly and blend it finely with the Medjool date until you have a thick cream.
3. Open the baked sweet potato lengthways and fluff up the inside a little with a fork.
4. Spread the almond butter over the warm sweet potato and spoon the açaí and date cream over or alongside it.
5. Scatter the nibbed almonds over the top and let everything stand briefly so the flavours come together.
6. Serve warm and enjoy the purple sweet potato açaí boat straight away.

Good to know

This recipe is vibrant, creamy and refreshingly simple. The sweetness is gentle, and the texture makes it special. A simple, lovely breakfast or snack boat.

Swaps

Sweet potato → steamed Hokkaido squash (similarly creamy, also contains beta-carotene) Medjool date → unsweetened berry purée (fewer free sugars, more polyphenols) Almond butter → hazelnut butter or cashew butter (similarly creamy, provides unsaturated fatty acids and minerals) Nibbed almonds → chopped walnuts or pecans (more omega-3 with walnuts, or a buttery flavour with pecans)

Allergens

Contains almonds as an allergen; for children only offer it in an age-appropriate way because of the nuts and the fibrous date, and in pregnancy the ingredients are usually fine as long as they're prepared cleanly and agree with you.

Frequently asked questions

What's special about purple sweet potatoes?

Like other sweet potatoes, they contain carbohydrates, fibre and potassium. The purple colour comes from anthocyanins, which are plant pigments.

What's actually in açaí?

Açaí provides anthocyanins and small amounts of fat and fibre, depending on processing. In this recipe it mainly brings its deep purple colour and a tart, berry-like flavour.

What does almond butter add here?

Almond butter brings unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and some magnesium to the recipe. It also makes the combination creamier and more rounded.

Do Medjool dates always agree with a sensitive stomach?

Not necessarily, because dates contain a lot of fruit sugar and fibre. With a sensitive stomach or fructose malabsorption, a smaller amount may be more comfortable.

Are nibbed almonds easier to eat than whole ones?

Often yes, because smaller pieces are easier to chew and mix well with soft ingredients. With a nut allergy, though, the form makes no difference.

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