Yam recipes

A three-layer Southern cake with grated sweet potatoes, warm spices, and chopped nuts, finished with a rich coconut frosting. The surprise? Nobody guesses it's sweet potato.

Spice-dusted chicken breasts slow-cooked on a bed of sweet potatoes in a creamy orange and mushroom sauce. A hands-off Crock-Pot dinner that fills the house with warmth.

Mung beans are a great source of plant protein, fiber and minerals such as iron, zinc and potassium (needed to regulate blood pressure).

Indian-style lamb with sweet potatoes is a one-pot braise of minced lamb, garam masala, ginger and garlic simmered with sweet potato and kale. A light, low-fat curry-style dinner in under 30 minutes.

Lacto-vegetarian sweet potato soup with carrots, celery, peas, and a triple-herb blend of thyme, basil, and tarragon. Finished with nonfat sour cream for a lighter, meatless comfort bowl.

Hearty tofu stew loaded with sweet potatoes, parsnips, turnips, zucchini, and mushrooms in a ginger-spiked broth with mirin and sake. A warming, veggie-packed bowl for cold nights.

Pork minestrone soup with cannellini beans, sweet potato, regular potato, and Italian-herb tomatoes in beef broth. A hearty 30-minute one-pot soup topped with Parmesan.

Smoky black bean chili with bell peppers, summer squash, and jalapeño spooned over split baked sweet potatoes. Vegan-friendly, make-ahead friendly, and loaded with fiber.

"There are many versions of this stew-soup in Central and South America. Scented with cumin, it makes a hearty supper on a chilly winter night."

West African chicken and groundnut stew with peanut butter, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and warm spices served over rice. A hearty one-pot meal bursting with earthy, nutty flavor.

Puchero is to Mexican cooking what Pot-au-Feu is to French. The difference lies in Puchero's imaginative combination of vegetables and fruits. Since it is even more delicious the second day, this recipe will make an ample amount to serve 8 for dinner, with some left over for lunch the following day.

Wholesome sweet potato cookies made with whole-wheat flour, oats, coconut, wheat germ, and chopped nuts, sweetened with honey and brown sugar. Soft, chewy, and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. Makes 4 dozen.

Hearty vegetarian Indian curry with potatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplant, zucchini, turnips, and green beans in a chickpea flour gravy spiced with ginger, tamarind, and fresh coriander.

Garden-loaded ratatouille sauce with eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, and sweet potato tossed with ziti and showered in fresh basil and mint. A vibrant, plant-based pasta that eats like a celebration of summer produce.

Hearty roasted vegetable soup with eggplant, zucchini, sweet potatoes, peppers, leeks, and three kinds of beans in herb-infused vegetable broth. A vegan, high-fiber dinner soup.

Vegetable couscous stew spiced with cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, and coriander, loaded with sweet potato, turnip, cabbage, chickpeas, and raisins. A fragrant North African one-pot dinner for six.