Sweet Potato Bars

Makes 16 pieces

Prepare ahead: Leave yourself 2 hours for these yummy bars to chill before cutting and eating.

Crust:

¾ cup rolled oats
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup unsalted pistachio nuts
¼ cup pecans
¼ cup teff flour
½ teaspoon orange zest
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons olive oil

Sweet Potato Layer:

1 pound garnet yams or orange fleshed sweet potatoes
3 tablespoons maple syrup
½ teaspoon orange zest
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon ground ginger
1/3 cup plain organic yogurt
2 large eggs
freshly grated nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Prick the yams all over with a fork and bake for about 35 to 45 minutes or until they are very soft. Allow them to cool.

Lightly oil an 8-inch square-baking pan. Place the oats, salt, cinnamon, pistachio nuts, pecans, teff four and orange zest in a food processor bowl with a fitted metal blade. Pulse until the ingredients are like a coarse meal. Add the maple syrup and olive oil and continue to pulse until all the ingredients are evenly moist, but still crumbly looking. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press it evenly and firmly into the bottom. Bake the crust for 15 minutes or until set. Remove from oven, but keep it on.

Meanwhile, peel the yam and mash the flesh. Measure 1½ cups of mashed yam, and place into the food processor bowl. Add the maple syrup, orange zest, cardamom, ginger, yogurt, and eggs and process until smooth. Pour the mixture onto the crust and smooth the top evenly with a spatula. Sprinkle with nutmeg and bake about 25 minutes or until the filling is set and just beginning to pull from the sides of pan. Allow to completely on a rack. Chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours. Cut into16 squares.

Prep Time: 13 minutes Cook Time: 40 – 45 plus 2 hours to chill

Storage: Store refrigerated in airtight container for 4 days

Freeze tightly wrapped for 2 months

Cook Notes:

Teff is gluten free flour. Technically, oats are gluten free, however, they are subject to cross contamination. If you’re extremely sensitive to gluten I recommend using Bob Red mill’s Gluten Free Oats.

http://rebeccakatz.com/recipes/sweet-potato-bars/