Description
These Mediterranean Ground Beef Sweet Potato Bowls are a vibrant and nutritious meal, combining tender, caramelized sweet potatoes with spiced ground beef, fresh cucumber salad, cottage cheese, and optional feta. Perfect for a balanced weeknight dinner, this recipe brings together bold Mediterranean flavors with wholesome ingredients and an easy-to-follow cooking method, utilizing an air fryer or oven for the sweet potatoes and stovetop for the beef.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 2-3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Ground Beef
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cucumber Salad
- 1 English cucumber, diced
- 1/4 small red onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup kalamata olives, chopped
- 1 medium tomato, diced
- 1-2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
To Serve
- Cottage cheese (Good Culture preferred)
- Hot honey, for drizzling
- Fresh cilantro or fresh dill, for garnish
- Lime wedges
- Crumbled feta cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Season the sweet potatoes: Toss the cubed sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Cook the sweet potatoes: If using an air fryer, cook at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until tender and lightly browned. Alternatively, roast them in an oven at 425°F for 25-35 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until fork-tender and caramelized.
- Cook the ground beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Add minced garlic, dried oregano, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat.
- Make the cucumber salad: In a medium bowl, combine diced cucumber, red onion, chopped kalamata olives, and diced tomato. Drizzle with olive oil and red wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and toss well to combine. For best flavor, prepare this ahead or chop vegetables in advance.
- Assemble the bowls: Divide the cooked sweet potatoes evenly among serving bowls. Top each bowl with the spiced ground beef, a generous scoop of cottage cheese, and the cucumber salad.
- Garnish and serve: Finish each bowl with fresh cilantro or dill, a squeeze of lime, and a drizzle of hot honey. Sprinkle with crumbled feta if using. Serve immediately for best taste.
Notes
- Using an air fryer for sweet potatoes speeds up cooking and gives a crisp exterior.
- Roasting in the oven is an excellent alternative if you don’t have an air fryer.
- Feel free to substitute cottage cheese with Greek yogurt for creaminess.
- Adjust the amount of hot honey to your preferred level of sweetness and heat.
- The cucumber salad can be made ahead to enhance flavors.
- For a vegetarian option, omit the ground beef and increase seasoning on the sweet potatoes and salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
