Sweet Potato Tortillas

Welcome back to Plant-Based Basics where I teach you how to make staple kitchen items like these sweet potato tortillas. These colorful tortillas can be used for everything from burritos and quesadillas to salad wraps and homemade nachos.

Whenever I see colorful tortillas in the store, I am immediately tempted to buy them. But then I see the price tag and move on! I’d rather make the, at home for a fraction of the price.

Usually, the wraps at the store are more vibrant thanks to beets or spinach among the ingredients. These sweet potato tortillas draw their bright pigment from a purple variety of sweet potatoes.

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♬ Just Can’t Get Enough – The Black Eyed Peas

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• When I first transitioned to veganism and started cooking from scratch, I was shocked how easy some of the staple items were. Tortillas, even colorful ones, are SUPER EASY to make, and definitely worth the effort.
• These sweet potato tortillas qualify as a hidden vegetable recipe! Those who may not want to load up with pure flour tortillas will appreciate the alternative that includes purple sweet potato.
• Depending on what you are planning to do with them, you can make a bigger batch. As it stands, this recipe lends 4-6 large tortillas.
• Making tortillas at home can help save a few bucks and will certainly reduce the amount of plastic packaging you have to discard.
• These sweet potato tortillas can be used just as regular store-bought tortillas. Make delicious burritos, quesadillas, crunch wraps and more!

A Guide to Purple Sweet Potatoes

So, you’ve got your regular sweet potatoes, the ones most of us are familiar with – orangey on the inside and maybe with a coppery or beige skin. Sweet, a bit nutty, and awesome in pies or stews.

Now, enter the scene: purple sweet potatoes! They’re rocking a vibrant purple or deep violet flesh inside. Taste-wise, they’re like the cool cousin at the sweet potato family reunion. A bit sweeter, a touch nuttier, and some say even more delicious.

The purple color comes from antioxidants known as anthocyanins. So, not only are they a feast for the eyes, but they also bring a bit more antioxidant punch compared to regular sweet potatoes.

Both types are like kitchen superheroes. You can roast, mash, bake them, toss them in salads, or sweeten up your life with pies. Purple or orange, they’re both stars in their own right, and it’s always fun to mix things up in the kitchen!

Key Ingredients

The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity. It only calls for FOUR INGREDIENTS, and I am willing to bet that you already have at least two of them.

• Purple sweet potatoes are the principal ingredient. They are sweet, starchy, and naturally purple. or this recipe, we will be using them once they are cooked and mashed.
• All-purpose flour binds everything together into a stretchy, elastic dough.
• Olive oil is used for pan-frying your tortillas without the risk of them sticking to the pan. It also adds a little bit of earthy flavor.
• Salt is the unviersal seasoning that enhances the flavors of other ingredients.

How to Make This Recipe

Start by cooking the purple sweet potato until soft. The best ways to do that are either baking in the oven/air fryer or a quick blast in the microwave. Allow your sweet potato to cool fully before you continue. 

You’ll need about a cup of sweet potato, so scoop out the flesh from the skin until you have enough. Transfer it to a bowl, adding the flour and salt.

Carefully combine the sweet potato and flour until you have a ball of elastic dough. This will require some effort. It’s easier to knead the dough with your hands.

Cut the dough into 4-6 equal pieces and form those pieces into balls. Dust a clean kitchen surface with flour and use a rolling pin to flatten each ball into a tortilla (about 1/8-1/4 inch thick).

Heat an oiled pan over medium heat and cook each tortilla individually for about a minute on each side. Use as you would store-bought tortillas.

Hack It!

• These tortillas store well in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze them, but I would advise to separate each wrap with a piece of baking parchment.
• Oil is not mandatory. You can cook tortillas in a dry pan, as long as it’s quality non-stick cookware.
• This recipe is not inherently gluten-free, but if you use oat flour instead of wheat flour, the texture will be quite similar.
• It’s easy to apply the same technique to other vegetables, particularly root veggies. Try this with carrots, beets, or regular sweet potatoes.
• You can infuse extra flavor or nutrition into your sweet potato tortillas when you’re making the dough. For instance, you can add some spices, herbs, or seeds to the mixture before rolling it out and cooking the tortillas.

Where to Find Purple Sweet Potato

Purple sweet potatoes are not as common as the regular orange ones. Their availability may depend on factors such as geographic location, local agriculture, and the time of year. Here are some common places where you might find purple sweet potatoes:

• Grocery Stores. Some well-stocked grocery stores, supermarkets, or specialty food stores carry purple sweet potatoes. They may be available in the produce section alongside other sweet potatoes or root vegetables.
• Farmers’ Markets. Local farmers’ markets are excellent places to find unique and specialty produce, including purple sweet potatoes. Local farmers often grow different varieties of sweet potatoes, and you might discover purple ones among their offerings.
• Asian or International Markets. Purple sweet potatoes are commonly used in various Asian cuisines, so you may find them in Asian grocery stores or international markets.
• Health Food Stores. Specialty or health food stores that focus on organic or unique produce may carry purple sweet potatoes, especially if there is a demand for diverse and nutritious options.
• Online Retailers. You can also find purple sweet potatoes through online retailers that specialize in delivering fresh produce. Some farmers or distributors offer the convenience of ordering unique varieties online and having them delivered to your doorstep.

When in doubt, it’s a good idea to check with local farmers, specialty stores, or inquire at the produce section of your favorite grocery store. The availability may vary by region and season, so keep an eye out for them, especially in the fall, which is a common time for sweet potatoes to be in abundance.

Other Recipes You’ll Love

• Gluten-Free Oat Tortillas
• High-Protein Flatbread
• Vegan Sheet Pan Quesadillas
• Buffalo Cauliflower Wraps
• Crispy Black Bean Tacos

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