Nigel Slater’s lamb stuffed sweet potato recipe

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/dec/30/nigel-slater-lamb-stuffed-sweet-potato-recipe

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The recipe

Wipe the skins of four medium to large sweet potatoes, then bake them for about an hour at 180C/gas mark 4.

While the potatoes are baking, pour a thin film of olive oil into a nonstick frying pan over a high heat, then add 400g of minced lamb in a thin layer. Let the lamb brown on the underside then break it up and let the rest of it brown evenly, stirring from time to time. When the mince has browned appetisingly, transfer it to a mixing bowl. Peel and thinly slice a medium-sized onion and let it colour lightly in the pan, adding a little more oil if necessary. Finely chop a small red chilli and stir it into the onion. As soon as the chilli is soft, tip everything in with the lamb and season with salt, pepper and a little chopped mint.

When the potatoes are tender right the way through, remove them from the oven, put them on a chopping board, take a long slice from the top of each – to form a lid – and set side. Using a teaspoon, scoop the flesh from each into a mixing bowl to leave four hollow shells, then put them in roasting tin.

Mix the meat, potato and onion, then pile it back into the potato shells. Put any remaining mixture alongside in the tin. Place the lids on top and bake for 15-20 minutes, till thoroughly hot. Serves 2-4.

The trick

The skin of sweet potato is thin and fragile. Bake the potatoes only until they are tender, then handle them carefully when scraping the flesh out of the skins so that they do not tear. Keep testing the potatoes as they bake, and catch them before they collapse. I find that medium-sized ones take about 45 minutes to bake.

The twist

Spice the filling up a bit with ground cumin, coriander, a little nutmeg and some garlic, added as the onion is softening. Minced pork is good here, too, in place of the lamb, seasoned with garlic, parmesan, chopped pancetta and dried oregano.

Email Nigel at nigel.slater@observer.co.uk. Follow Nigel on Twitter @NigelSlater