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Home » Recipe Index » Mains

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa

Published: Oct 15, 2020 · Modified: Feb 1, 2025 by Fida | Sweet and Savoury Pursuits · This post may contain affiliate links · 13 Comments

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This easy to make, delicious Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa bowl is a hearty meatless meal loaded with flavourful and healthy ingredients.

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa bowl topped with fresh cilantro.

Quinoa is one of my favourite ingredients to incorporate into my family's diet. It's full of complete proteins, a plethora of minerals as well as vitamins and fibre (read here for more on the health benefits of quinoa).

Quinoa is incredibly versatile and is delicious with so many different ingredients. I also love using quinoa flour and use it often to bake delicious muffins and cookies.

This savoury dish combines quinoa with aromatic ingredients such as onions, garlic, and jalapeño. Sweet potato and black beans get added to complete the dish and add texture, flavour and nutrition.

The result is a delicious, hearty and satisfying vegetarian meal (even vegan if you omit the cheese).

Bowl of quinoa with sweet potato and black beans.
Jump to:
  • How to Make Quinoa with Sweet Potato and Black Beans
  • Ingredients Overview
  • Steps Overview
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage Instructions
  • More Delicious Quinoa Recipes
  • Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa Recipe

How to Make Quinoa with Sweet Potato and Black Beans

Though this recipe involves a bit of chopping, it comes together easily and quickly. If you chop the ingredients while you're cooking the quinoa you could have this meal ready in just over 30 minutes. In my book, that makes it perfect for a weeknight meal.

Ingredients Overview

For the Quinoa:

  • Quinoa
  • Salt, cumin, coriander, chili powder

For the Sweet Potato and Black Beans:

  • Olive oil
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Jalapeño. Deseeded and membrane removed.
  • Pepper, salt, chili powder, coriander, cumin
  • Sweet potato
  • Black beans. For convenience, I use canned black beans. Make sure to rinse the beans well and drain them before adding them to the skillet.
  • Lime (for serving on the side)
  • Cilantro. If you like the taste of cilantro, you could sprinkle some roughly chopped leaves before serving.
  • Goat or feta cheese (for serving on the side, optional)
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa bowl.

Here's an overview of the cooking directions, for more thorough instructions please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Steps Overview

  1. Rinse the quinoa with cold water. Drain it and transfer to a medium saucepan. Add the water, salt, cumin, chili and coriander. Adding the spices to the water makes the quinoa even more flavourful and ensures that every bite is super tasty. Bring the quinoa to a gentle boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the saucepan leaving the lid slightly ajar. Simmer until the water has been absorbed and the quinoa is cooked.
  2. Meanwhile, finely chop the onion, the garlic and jalapeño. Chop the sweet potato into a small-medium dice.
  3. Over medium heat, cook the onion in a skillet until it begins to soften, add the garlic and jalapeño. Cook until softened and add the salt and spices.
  4. Add the sweet potatoes and water to the skillet and simmer for about 12 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked thru.
  5. Add the black beans to the skillet and toss with the sweet potatoes and onions.
  6. To finish add the cooked quinoa and cilantro. Toss the ingredients well, taste and adjust the salt to your liking.
Bowl of quinoa with sweet potato and black beans

Serving Suggestions

This dish can easily be served as a main but is also great for serving as a side dish. It goes well with this Roast Chicken or this Easy Roast Turkey. Serve this quinoa dish with fresh lime wedges, extra chopped cilantro and some crumbled goat or feta cheese for added zing.

Leftovers can be warmed and enjoyed in tacos, or as tortilla wraps. You could also use this Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa as the filling for a burritos dish.

Storage Instructions

Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

More Delicious Quinoa Recipes

  • Southwestern Quinoa Salad
  • Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
  • Whole Wheat Quinoa Flour Pancakes
  • Quinoa Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bowl of quinoa with black beans and sweet potato topped with feta cheese and cilantro.

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa Recipe

Author: Adapted from Food Network Kitchen
This delicious Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa is a hearty meatless meal loaded with flavourful and healthy ingredients.
4.84 from 12 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 362 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Quinoa:

  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 cups water
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder

For the Sweet Potato and Black Beans:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 clove medium garlic
  • 1 jalapeño deseeded and membrane removed
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 2 ½ cups sweet potato cubed small to medium dice
  • 1 ¼ cups water
  • ¾ cup cooked black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 lime cut into wedges (for serving on the side)
  • ⅓ cup chopped cilantro (plus extra for serving on the side, optional)
  • Crumbled goat or feta cheese (for serving on the side optional)

Instructions
 

  • Rinse the quinoa in a fine mesh colander with cold water. Drain the quinoa and transfer to a medium saucepan. Add the water, salt, cumin, chili and coriander. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the saucepan leaving the lid slightly ajar and simmer until the water has been absorbed and the quinoa is cooked, approximately 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the quinoa from the heat but leave it covered.
  • Meanwhile, finely chop the onion, the garlic and jalapeño.
  • Chop the sweet potato into a small-medium dice.
  • Over medium heat, heat the oil in a skillet, add the onion and cook a couple of minutes until the onions begin to soften, stir and add the garlic and jalapeño. Cook for a couple of minutes or until softened and add the salt and spices, give it all a good stir.
  • Add the sweet potatoes and water to the skillet, simmer for about 12 to 15 minutes, keeping an eye on the water level in the skillet and the doneness of the sweet potatoes. If the water is absorbed before the potatoes are cooked to your liking add ¼ cup of water and continue to simmer.
  • Once the potatoes are cooked thru add the black beans to warm them.
  • To finish add the cooked quinoa, cilantro and adjust the salt to your taste.
  • Serve wedges of lime, crumbled goat or feta cheese and extra chopped cilantro on the side.

Notes

  1. This dish will make 4 full servings or 6 side servings.
  2. The cheese is optional and not included in the calculation of the nutrition facts.

Nutrition

Calories: 362kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 11gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 438mgPotassium: 752mgFiber: 10gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 12264IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 93mgIron: 5mg
Keyword Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa, Sweet Potato Black Bean Bowl, Sweet Potato Black Bean Quinoa
Tried this recipe? Have any questions, comments or suggestions? Leave a comment below!Mention @sweetandsavourypursuits or tag #sweetandsavourypursuits!

This post was originally published in January 2016. It has been updated with new content. Recipe remains unchanged.

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Comments

    4.84 from 12 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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  1. Natalie says

    December 30, 2024 at 7:19 pm

    4 stars
    Overall good. Not all of the water boiled off when I made the sweet potatoes though, so would really reduce that next time.

    Reply
  2. RozieLand says

    March 10, 2016 at 6:32 pm

    I will definitely make this tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says

      March 11, 2016 at 11:48 am

      My pleasure, hope you enjoy it!

      Reply
  3. HapaNomNom says

    January 25, 2016 at 11:57 pm

    Great idea to add some of the spices to the cooking water - double up on that awesome flavor! I always love when you can have a dish that's healthy, delicious, and filling - it's like the perfect trifecta!

    Reply
    • Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says

      January 28, 2016 at 9:12 pm

      I completely agree, wish it could always be that way!

      Reply
  4. Noel Williams ...www.klassicportraits.com...www.photopincher.com says

    January 19, 2016 at 9:08 pm

    This dish looks fantastic. Yummy, yummy, yummy!
    Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says

      January 20, 2016 at 1:04 pm

      Thanks so much Noel, so happy you like it!

      Reply
  5. nancyc says

    January 19, 2016 at 8:29 pm

    This dish looks so good and I love how colorful and healthy it is!

    Reply
    • Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says

      January 20, 2016 at 1:03 pm

      Thanks Nancy! I agree, I love the brightness of the sweet potato, makes the dish come to life and it's so good.

      Reply
  6. apuginthekitchen says

    January 19, 2016 at 1:26 pm

    That is a gorgeous bowl of goodness. Your photo is just beautiful as well. I have never been able to successfully make quinoa, weird right. I usually end up subbing a grain like farro or something. Not sure why I am challenged when it comes to quinoa. Love how this recipe sounds.

    Reply
    • Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says

      January 19, 2016 at 6:07 pm

      Thanks Suzanne! Actually, funny thing I have the same issue but with rice, it's hit and miss with me! I think the problem might be the quantity of water, I think it's better to be conservative with the water, you could always add more water if the quinoa isn't cooked (once the water is all absorbed).

      Reply
  7. Louise Crosby says

    January 19, 2016 at 1:25 pm

    So healthy and so beautiful! This looks fantastic!

    Reply
    • Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says

      January 19, 2016 at 3:12 pm

      Thanks so much Louise!

      Reply
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