This easy vegan sweet potato bake is the ultimate comfort food—creamy, flavour-packed, and completely dairy-free. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or prepping a wholesome family dinner, it’s a hearty side dish or main meal that everyone will love.
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You may have noticed that I've been a bit experimental in my cooking lately, using ingredients like coconut oil and nuts in place of butter and milky ingredients.
I've loved nearly everything I've tried but I haven't gotten quite far enough into it to make something 'cheesy.' I absolutely love potato bake so when Kirsty aka The Natural Foodie sent me her guest post recipe - vegan sweet potato bake - I was excited.
Doesn't it look just like a rich creamy sauce? There's not an ounce of dairy in it! I can't wait to give this one a go.
Kirsty has loads of wonderfully delicious vegan recipes over on her blog. I particularly like the look of her mango coghurt and vegan guacamole. Make sure you pop by and say hi. Now ove you you Kirsty...
“I would love to do a vegan sweet potato bake to keep both camps happy, but I don’t think that exists!”
This is a direct quote from my dear friend C, during a conversation we were having regarding catering for an upcoming barbecue she was hosting with a mixed group of friends. You see, some of them are very into working out (cross fit I think) and are strict advocates of the “paleo” diet.
I know nothing about said paleo rules, but apparently sweet potato is OK, while regular white potatoes are not (a travesty if you ask me, since I’m a huge lover of the humble tater).
I personally don’t subscribe to any particular “diet” perse, much like my blogger friend Claire, I don’t believe in self-deprivation. My philosophy on food is much simpler; I eat what’s kind to my body and kind to the planet.
As such, the traditional cheese-laden potato bake is not something I would tuck into. Bless C for her constant support of my lifestyle; she had the veggie skewers, roast potatoes and green salad sorted. Yet her mention of potato bake had my mind racing with ideas and a sudden craving for this nostalgic barbecue-side favourite...
“Vegan sweet potato bake you say... Challenge accepted!”
It’d been so long since I’d eaten potato bake that I’d all but forgotten how deliciously sinful and comforting that white cheese sauce can be.
Thankfully, the challenge didn’t pan out to be so much of an, err, challenge as I quickly recalled this recipe posted by Scullery Made Tea, which reminded me that I also have the Enlightened Eating book and had in fact dog-eared that very recipe to try myself!
The only concern I had was that sweet potato tends to cook quicker than regular, starchier potatoes, so my first attempt yielded quite a mushy result. It tasted great, but potato bake texture it was not.
In light of this, I recommend cooking uncovered at 180 centigrade for about 45 minutes, and to keep a skewer on hand to check the level of mushiness during the tail end of cooking.
So without further ado, or further ramblings, here’s my very much adapted recipe of sweet potato bake – which most certainly does keep all camps happy.
Recipe
Vegan Sweet Potato Bake
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw cashews soaked for 6 hours
- 4 cups water
- 2 tablespoon nutritional savoury yeast flakes*
- 1 small onion
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon quinoa flour or potato starch if you’re not doing the paleo thing
- 1 tablespoon coarse sea salt
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 medium – large sweet potatoes sliced to about 5mm thickness
Instructions
- Pre heat oven to 180C (350F) fan-forced.
- In a food processor blend the soaked and drained cashews until fairly smooth.
- Add the water and blitz until smooth and creamy.
- Roughly chop the onion and garlic, cumin seeds (reserve about a teaspoon for sprinkling on top) and flour, and blend until smooth.
- Add the cashew “cheese” sauce to a saucepan and whisk over medium heat until it thickens.
- In a rectangular oven-proof dish layer the sweet potato slices until they cover the entire base of the dish.
- Drizzle over some cashew sauce, then top with another layer of potatoes and sauce until all of the potatoes and sauce are used or you’ve filled the dish (depending how deep it is).
- Finish with cashew sauce, ensuring all the potatoes are covered so they cook evenly.
- Top with a bay leaf, a sprinkle of sea salt and the remaining cumin seeds.
- Bake in the oven for about 40 - 45 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling on top.
The Café Sucre Farine says
Hello Kirsty, looks like you met the challenge quite well!
Claire says
Didn't she?!
Kirsty @ The Natural Foodie says
I think it was a success - the paleo eyes did light up at the sight, but the mind was met with a lot of confusion at the "cheese" replacement!
Hotly Spiced says
The uni students would love this - they won't eat the ordinary potato any more either but make me buy tonnes of sweet potato. This does look very creamy and it's hard to believe there's no dairy xx
Claire says
They would indeed Charlie!
Kirsty @ The Natural Foodie says
Such a sad state when uni students won't eat potatoes, they are one of the best sources of complex carbohydrates, phytonutrients and vitamins. There are so many varieties and so many ways to prepare them (healthily)! Hopefully these are a welcome addition to your household soon...
Eha says
The long and the short and the tall: have not eaten potatoes for some three decades [well, 1-2/year], but love sweet potatoes and this 'bake' sounds great and will be tried over the weekend! It promises to be wonderfully tasty as well as obviously healthy . . . pretty rich what with the nuts . . . so fairly small portions will suffice methinks . . .:) ! [And, no, I am not paleo, gluten-free or anything similar . . . ]
Claire says
Sounds like the perfect way to re-introduce them Eha!
Kirsty @ The Natural Foodie says
Yes, it is a rich bake Eha, so like all good things, moderation is key. It's probably not an everyday food, but great for treating yourself to something creamy and warming!
Stephanie@Henry Happened says
things sounds good and healthy! perfect for a weekend dinner with the family.