Sweet Potato Sandwich

Sweet Potato Sandwich

Back when I was in nursing school, I had the opportunity to observe surgeries in the Operating Room. On one particular experience, I was sitting in on a spinal surgery. Besides watching from afar in my sexy PPE get-up {also known as personal protective equipment, which is anything but sexy,} I had nothing else to do but engage in small talk with the surgeons, OR Tech and the medical equipment sales guy. I’m sure I was told some vital info about the surgery & the step-by-step synopsis of what was occurring, but I don’t seem to remember that part.

What I do remember is when I was asked what my favorite meal would be. Next comes the part where I felt like a total ding-dong for saying such a lame answer. At this point, I was already feeling a little woozy because I was starving. All I could think about was what I was going to eat for lunch. So what did I answer?? I said it would probably be a sandwich and a salad. LAME!! The guys were kind of surprised and said my answer could tell a lot about what kind of date I would be. I felt like my answer made me sound like one of those girls who ordered just a salad and definitely a girl that would make for a boring date! But as the surgery continued on, I started thinking that not all favorite meals have to be lavish. In fact, I happen to love sandwiches and don’t think I’ve ever had one that left me disappointed. Of course it’s probably not my favorite meal, but who can choose just one favorite meal anyway?

I do like to frequent cafés often & I’m always down for a tasty sandwich. While in LA, my friends and I stopped in at simplethings sandwich & pie shop for a late lunch. I was tempted to try their Portobello Mushroom Pie, but had to pass it up after I found out it had cheese in it. {Since I’m giving up cheese for a while.} So instead, I chose their ½ sandwich-½ salad deal {BIG surprise!} The salad was amazing, but it was their Sweet Potato sandwich {sans the goat cheese} that I found extra appealing. So as soon as I got home I wanted to re-create a version {my own version} of their sandwich. It’s not completely the same, but I loved the idea of sweet potatoes on a sandwich. So here it is!!! XOXO....little j Y

Sweet Potato Sandwich

1 pretzel bun, toasted w/ spray butter

1 ½ Tbsp basil-avocado spread

1 Tbsp caramelized sweet onions {see recipe below}

1 sweet potato, baked

1/3 cup coleslaw {see recipe below}

{optional: cheese of your choice}

Step 1: Follow recipe for making Pretzel Buns or use your favorite roll/bun/bread. Toast in toaster or brown bun over stovetop in pan. {If using cheese, toast bun & quickly melt cheese under broiler.}

Step 2: Spread toasted bun with basil-avocado spread & top with caramelized onions.

Step 3: Layer with baked sweet potatoes.

Step 4: Scoop on the coleslaw.

Final Result: Sweet Potato Sandwich

Caramelized Onions

*Makes 4 sandwich servings

1 sweet onion, sliced

1 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Melt butter and heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cover with lid {to let them “sweat”} for 10 minutes. Remove lid and continue cooking onions over low-medium heat for 45-60 minutes until caramelized.

Baked Sweet Potatoes

*Serving sizes vary with potato sizes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking pan with foil covered with an olive oil or butter spray. Cut sweet potatoes into ½ inch-thick slices. Arrange slices in a single-layer onto foil. Lightly spray potatoes with butter spray. Sprinkle with kosher salt & pepper. Bake for 30 minutes, or until soft when pricked with a fork.

Coleslaw

*Makes about 2 cups

2 cups coleslaw mix {I used 3-Color Deli Cole Slaw Mix}

¼ cup {4 Tbsp} extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp vinegar {I used rice vinegar}

2 Tbsp light mayo

3 tsp sugar

kosher salt & pepper, to taste

In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, sugar, and mayo. Add coleslaw mix and stir to evenly coat. Season with kosher salt & pepper.