Sweet potato black bean enchiladas are vegan, gluten free and make a delightful dinner. Packed full of flavorful spices with an easy homemade enchilada sauce and roasted sweet potatoes, these enchiladas will quickly become a dinnertime favorite.
Before I became vegan, enchiladas were my go-to at Mexican restaurants. I’d get cheese and onion enchiladas bathed in red sauce, eating every glorious bite and scooping up the remnants with tortilla chips. Then I’d leave with a stomachache. These meals are fond memories with friends and family, but the things they did to my body are not fond.
As I started taking animal products out of my diet I discovered this beautiful combination and never looked back! Sweet potatoes and black beans are a match made in heaven. I have often eaten an entire plate consisting of these two things for a meal and been completely satisfied. So then, rolling them up in a tortilla and baking them with a cashew cream sauce feels otherworldly to me.
How to make black bean sweet potato enchiladas
These enchiladas do require some time to make, but a lot of it is hands-off. I can get this meal on the table beginning to end in about an hour.
Start by roasting the sweet potatoes. Next, while the sweet potatoes are roasting make the enchilada and cashew cream sauces. This sounds like a lot of work, but I promise you it is not. Both sauces come together in no time. When the enchilada sauce is done spread 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13″ pan to prevent sticking.
Once the sweet potatoes are fork tender remove them from the oven and add them to a medium sized bowl with the black beans and a few tablespoons of the enchilada sauce. Scoop about 1/3 cup of the sweet potato mixture into a tortilla shell. Roll up each tortilla and then lay seam side down in the prepared baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Pour a cup of the remaining enchilada sauce evenly over the top and then drizzle with the cashew cream sauce.
Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the enchilada sauce is bubbling and the enchiladas are warmed through.
Substitutions for black bean sweet potato enchiladas
- I use my homemade gluten free tortillas when making these enchiladas, but you could also use corn or flour tortillas. If you’re using corn tortillas warm them slightly in the microwave or a pan to make them more flexible and easy to roll.
- A store bought enchilada sauce would work just fine here if you don’t want to make your own. Enchilada sauce comes in 10 or 28-ounce cans. A 10-ounce can is right on the verge of being enough, but you can stretch it by reducing the amount you put on the bottom of the pan to 1/3 cup. Or you can use two 10-ounce cans and slather the enchiladas in the sauce.
- If you don’t want to make the cashew cream sauce you could use my cashew mozzarella, a shredded store bought vegan cheese, or skip it altogether.
- If sweet potatoes are hard to find you could also use butternut squash or any other slightly sweet squash.
- Pinto beans can be substituted for the black beans.
What should I serve with vegan enchiladas?
I like to serve these enchiladas with a side of rice or quinoa and a big green salad with my avocado ranch dressing. The enchiladas are pretty filling, so eating them alone with a bigger portion is plenty for a meal too! However you choose to eat them, you’re going to fall in love! Enjoy!
Sweet potato black bean enchiladas
Ingredients
Enchiladas
- 3 cups sweet potatoes (about 2 large) diced
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika smoked if desired
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 15-ounce can black beans or 2 cups cooked black beans
- 10 6-inch gluten free tortillas or corn (or flour if not gluten free)
Enchilada Sauce (or use 1 10-ounce can red enchilada sauce)*
- 2 tablespoonos olive oil
- 2 tablespoons gluten free flour
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 2 cups vegetable broth or water**
- 1/4 teaspoon salt to taste
Cashew Cream Sauce***
- 1/2 cup cashews soaked in hot water for 2 hours
- 1/2 cup almond milk or other non-dairy milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Set aside a 9 x 13" baking dish for the enchiladas.
- Place the sweet potatoes on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle on the garlic powder, paprika and salt. Drizzle on the olive oil and then toss to thoroughly coat the potatoes with the spices and oil. Spread into an even layer and roast for 25 minutes, or until fork tender, tossing once halfway through.
- While the sweet potatoes are roasting make the enchilada and cashew cream sauces.
Enchilada Sauce (if not using canned):
- Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour and stir constantly until the flour is light golden brown, about 1 minute. Add the spices and cook another minute until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and broth and whisk until smooth and thoroughly combined. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 3-5 minutes until thickened. Season with salt. Set aside.
Cashew Cream Sauce:
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste. Set aside.
Enchiladas:
- Pour 1/2 cup enchilada sauce into the bottom of the baking dish and spread evenly. Once the sweet potatoes are done roasting add them to a medium bowl along with the black beans and 3 tablespoons enchilada sauce. Stir to combine.
- Taking one tortilla at a time scoop 1/3 cup of the sweet potato mixture into a tortilla. Roll it up and put it seam side down in the prepared baking pan. Repeat with the remaining tortillas. If the tortillas aren't flexible and are hard to roll, place them in a damp paper towel and microwave for 30 seconds.
- Pour 3/4 cup of the enchilada sauce evenly over the top of the enchiladas. Drizzle 1/2 cup of cashew cream sauce over the top.
- Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the enchilada sauce is bubbling and the enchiladas are warmed through. Allow to sit 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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