Friends, we are so excited to share our latest obsession with you: Masala Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes! Swoon.
This seriously flavorful, Indian-inspired recipe is made with two of our favorite foods (chickpeas & sweet potatoes) and requires just 10 simple ingredients to prepare!
What is Tandoori Masala?
The word “tandoor” in India means clay oven, which is most commonly used for cooking breads like naan. However, tandoori masala isn’t only used for seasonings breads but also meat and vegetable dishes. (source)
The word “masala” means a blend of spices used in Indian cooking. (source)
Tandoori Masala spices typically include cumin, red chili, fenugreek, black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, nutmeg, turmeric, and ginger (among others). It’s spicy, robust, yet balanced and incredibly versatile. And we especially love it on roasted chickpeas.
For a more authentic, homemade version, you could try this recipe from Binjal’s Veg Kitchen. Or in a pinch, we were able to find a store-bought version at Whole Foods that’s quite tasty.
This dish starts with halving the sweet potatoes and rubbing them with oil and salt. For additional flavor, we suggest seasoning with curry powder or green curry paste, though optional.
The potatoes are then roasted until they’re perfectly tender and lightly caramelized.
Next, the chickpeas are mixed with avocado oil, tandoori masala seasoning (DIY or store-bought), salt, and an optional pinch of cayenne before being roasted alongside the sweet potatoes.
While the chickpeas and sweet potatoes are baking, it’s time to make the green chutney. A small blender works best, but a food processor or mortar and pestle are also options.
Cilantro serves as the base of the chutney, garlic and lime add zing, and salt and pepper add flavor. Maple syrup rounds out the other flavors while water helps it blend and the magic ingredient (avocado) makes it extra creamy!
If you love this chutney as much as we do, be sure to add our Aloo Tikki (Indian Potato Cakes with Green Chutney) and Shawarma Roasted Cauliflower “Steak” to your future meal plans.
With the three components prepped (chickpeas, sweet potato, chutney), you’re ready for assembly!
Using a fork or spoon, gently smash down the fleshy part of the sweet potato. Top with the chickpeas and chutney and wait for the “yums!” that are sure to follow!
We hope you LOVE these potatoes! They’re:
Tender
Flavorful
Perfectly spiced
Easy
& SO comforting!
These stuffed sweet potatoes are delicious on their own as a lighter meal. Or for something more filling, serve with Indian-inspired dishes such as our Quick Crispy Cauliflower, Coconut Curried Greens, or Masala-Spiced Tofu Scramble.
More Sweet Potato Recipes
- Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Roasted Broccoli Sweet Potato Chickpea Salad
- Sheet Pan Meal: Curried Sweet Potato & Chickpeas
- Sweet Potato Cauliflower Curry (30 Minutes!)
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Masala Chickpea Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
POTATOES
- 3 small-medium* sweet potatoes (organic when possible), scrubbed clean and halved lengthwise
- ~1 Tbsp avocado oil (or sub olive oil)
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 tsp curry powder or green curry paste (ensure vegan friendliness // optional)
CHICKPEAS
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained, and dried in a clean towel
- 1 ½ Tbsp avocado oil (or sub olive oil)
- 2 Tbsp tandoori masala seasoning* (see notes for where to buy + DIY recipe)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional // for heat)
GREEN CHUTNEY
- 2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro (~1 large bundle as recipe is written / some stems are okay)
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/4 tsp each sea salt and black pepper
- 2 Tbsp lime juice (1 lime yields ~2 Tbsp or 30 ml)
- 1-2 tsp sweetener (maple syrup, agave nectar, or honey if not vegan)
- Water to thin (~1/4 cup or 60 ml as recipe is written)
- 2-3 Tbsp ripe avocado for extra creaminess
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (204 C), and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. (NOTE: Depending on the size of your baking sheets and sweet potatoes, you may get away with using one baking sheet instead of two. Just be sure not to crowd the pan too much otherwise the chickpeas will steam instead of roasting — see photo example above).
- Add potatoes to one of the baking sheets and drizzle with avocado oil and sprinkle with sea salt. An optional step to infuse more flavor is to rub the potatoes with curry powder or green curry paste.
- Lay potatoes cut side down on the baking sheet and bake on a top/center rack for 25 minutes or until tender.
- In the meantime, add drained and dried chickpeas to a small mixing bowl and top with avocado oil, tandoori masala seasoning, sea salt, and a pinch of cayenne (optional). Toss to combine, then taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more masala blend for smokiness, sea salt for saltiness, or cayenne for heat.
- Arrange chickpeas on the other baking sheet and bake on a bottom/center rack for a total of 20-25 minutes alongside the sweet potatoes. NOTE: For crispier chickpeas, it’s best to bake the chickpeas under the sweet potatoes so they don’t steam.
- To prepare the chutney, add cilantro, garlic, salt and pepper, lime juice, sweetener, and avocado to a small blender or food processor (or use a mortar and pestle) and mix to combine.
- Add only enough water to encourage blending and make the sauce pourable. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more garlic for spice/zing, salt to taste, sweetener for sweetness, or lime juice for acidity. Set aside.
- For serving, flip potatoes cut-side up and smash down the insides a little bit with a spoon or spatula. Top with chickpeas and chutney and enjoy immediately. Garnish with extra cilantro or lime juice if desired.
- Best when fresh. Store leftover chickpeas in a well-sealed container at room temperature up to 3 days. Chutney will keep (separately) in the refrigerator up to 3 days. To reheat, bake sweet potatoes and chickpeas in a 375 degree F (190 C) oven until hot. Top with chutney.
Video
Notes
*We buy Tandoori Masala blend at Whole Foods. If you can’t find it, try this DIY blend for similar results: 3 Tbsp cumin, 2 Tbsp garlic powder, 2 Tbsp paprika, 3 tsp ginger, 2 tsp coriander, 2 tsp cardamom. Multiply as needed. Or, for a more authentic, homemade version of Tandoori Masala, you could try this recipe from Binjal’s Veg Kitchen.
*Small sweet potatoes cook faster. If too large, plan on increasing cooking time or cutting into quarters instead of halves to speed cooking time.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with medium-sized sweet potatoes, the lesser amounts of maple syrup and avocado, and without optional ingredients.
Tess Beasley says
Absolutely delicious. As a service industry worker I’m always looking for quick things to make after work. This is perfect and the sauce is divine!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Tess. Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Amy says
Made this for my roommates and it was a hit! Didn’t take long to make and my roommates have already asked me to make it again. Plus- it’s healthy and something a little different from our usual meals. I am not a chef by any means and the steps were super easy to follow! Thank you!
(P.S Now my roommates think I am a pro-chef….Michelin Stars here I come!)
Woohoo! We love to hear this. Thanks so much for the lovely review, Amy! We’re so glad you and your roommates enjoyed!
Filipa Gaspar says
It was delicious! My 8 months old loved the sweet potatoes (I did a portion with no salt).
And the chutney was super fresh and balanced everything.
Aw, yay! We’re so glad the whole family could enjoy =) Thanks for sharing, Filipa! xo
Pam says
Hi what are the best sweet potatoes for this recipe? Garnet or Jewel? The ones in the pictures look like Jewel variety but I’m not sure.
We prefer Garnet!
Kaelyn says
These are too good!! Will definitely be adding this recipe to the weekly rotation :))
Thanks for sharing, Kaelyn!!
Gemma says
I can 100% vouch for this recipe!! I’ve made it several times now. It’s the perfect meal when you aren’t bothered to prepare anything that’s too involved/ complex but you don’t want to sacrifice on taste. There is absolutely no trade off between yummy-ness and easiness with this recipe!! And it’s super filling! I like to serve it with a simple garden salad to balance out the heavy carbs with something a bit lighter. Whenever I have cooked this for my friends they have love love loved it. Thank you Minimalist Baker for this delightful dish!!
That’s such a great way to describe it, Gemma! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Sage says
Oh my gosh. One of the more delicious meals I’ve made in a while! I was worried that the chickpeas were too spicy (added a fair amount of cayenne) and that the cilantro sauce was too sweet, but the balance was perfect and checked all the flavor boxes. Filling, nutritious, delicious! Will keep in rotation.
Yay! So glad you enjoyed, Sage. Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Jessica says
Another spectacular recipe from minimalist baker! I had yams on hand so I used those instead of sweet potatoes. I also didn’t have any ripe avocado so I omitted that… The chutney was pretty watery without it but it didn’t matter whatsoever as the flavour was spot on!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Jessica! Thanks so much for sharing! The avocado will help thicken it, but if you don’t have it next time, we’d suggest reducing/omitting the water. Hope that helps!
Stacey L. says
I love this chutney and put it on everything…and eat it as a dip as well with some extra avocado blended in. Over the holidays, I planned to make it to go on oven roasted baby potatoes. When I went to grab my cilantro I noticed it was not good anymore so used dill instead and also lemon instead of the lime juice. It was equally as delish!
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Stacey!
Stacey Lombardi says
I love this chutney and put it on everything…and eat it as a dip as well with some extra avocado blended in. Over the holidays, I planned to make it to go on oven roasted baby potatoes. When I went to grab my cilantro I noticed it was not good anymore so used dill instead and also lemon instead of the lime juice. It was equally as delish!
M L says
These turned out really well! I baked the potatoes for longer than specified (40 minutes), and used a garam masala for the chickpeas because that’s what I had on hand. The green sauce was a hit and I had added about twice the amount of avocado. Thanks!
Yay! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Bella says
My boyfriend didn’t believe I made the coriander sauce. Thanks so much for the recipe, added to the rotation!
Whoop! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it, Bella! Thanks for sharing!
Dee says
Holy Moly!!! We came in from a hike on a chilly, damp day here in Wisconsin and I needed something quick and warming. You hit this one out of the park, Dana. I didn’t have the ingredients for the chutney, so topped everything with dairy-free yogurt.
Aw, thanks so much for the lovely review, Dee! We’re so glad this hit the spot! xo
Scott S. says
The sweet potatoes came out wonderfully, but be careful not to get them too big or you’ll have tons of leftovers. We also topped everything with some pomegranate seeds which were a delicious addition. Definitely a great standalone vegetarian meal!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, Scott!
Claudia says
This is so delicious Dana. I just made it for me and my husband and we loved it! The green chutney is so good over the sweet potatoes and chickpeas.
Thank you for your recipes.
We’re so glad you both enjoyed it, Claudia! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Allison Miera says
Hi Dana! I HATE cilantro! Am I able to use anything else for the sauce?
Hmm, what about a mix of spinach + mint and/or parsley?
Rachel says
My partner just made this for an afternoon snack – it was delicious! He did not use oil on the potatoes at all, but did rub the cut sides in yellow curry paste. They came out wonderfully creamy and perfectly toasted on the cut side. Ahh. Sooo good, we will definitely be making these again. Great, easy recipe. Thank you!
We’re so glad you both enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Iralyn says
Made this tonight (minus cayenne) and it was delicious and easy! Even our toddler ate all of her sweet potato and chickpeas and some of the sauce. Next time I will double the chickpea portion of the recipe and cook some couscous to go with it to make it more of a full meal. Great recipe!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Iralyn! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Eli Briggs says
This was really great. I didn’t have all the chutney ingredients so just made a basic guac.
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Eli. We are so glad you enjoyed them! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Wes says
Guys, I’ve to say, this recipe is brilliant. It’s very simple and tasty. I’ll definitely be making it again, especially the green chutney. I kinda followed the recipe exactly, but used half an avocado instead of spoons of it. It’s never too much avocado, right? Thank you!
Whoop! Thanks so much for sharing, Wes!
Sadye says
Ohhhh lordy this was amazing, and I didn’t even follow the directions properly. I can’t wait to try it following things to a T (trust me I didn’t make any magic tweaks to the recipe). The one extra thing I did worth sharing, IMO, is that I served mine over coconut rice (as in, cooked some rice with half coconut milk/half water).
What a lovely addition! Thanks for sharing, Sadye!
Oceane says
Delicious! The chickpeas and potatoes were super tasty and the cooking time was on point. The chutney was also very good. I used a whole avocado instead of the recommended 2-3 tbsp. The raw garlic was a little much for my taste. I will definetly make this recipe again, but using only one garlic clove instead of 2.
Thanks for sharing, Oceane! We’re glad you enjoyed it!
Sandy says
The flavour in this recipe is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Thanks Dana💚 Instead of the dressing, I just sprinkled chopped coriander and lime juice and I am amazed at how delicious each component is, and how creative you are to think of combining everything in this way. Love from Aotearoa New Zealand 💚
xoxo! Thanks, Sandy!!
Cindy says
Okay so this one is being added to my meal rotation! SO GOOD!!!
I used half of the spice mix for the chickpeas and sprinkled the rest on some tofu which I also roasted at the same time.
I did not use avo in the dressing but did add mint & onion – delicious!
Thank you for another amazing meal idea!
Lovely! Thanks, Cindy!
Meredith says
Hey Dana!! I can’t wait to make these but I have a question – I’d like to pair it with something simple that I can grill, like chicken or a pork chop. What would be a good way to spice/marinate them so the flavors all go together? I’m not familiar with Indian cuisine and have never really had it before, so this is my first foray. :)
I’d suggest a spice blend like our “Shawarma” inspired blend!
Gene R Crombine says
The Mediterranean baked sweet potatoes is my most frequently prepared dish. I really love it, and look forward to trying this one. I have a question- can I just whisk the chutney to blend instead of using a blender? I really hate to haul out and clean the food processer if I can cheat with no real damage to the end product.
You’ll definitely need to blend or food process this for best results!
Diana says
Perfect for a lazy dinner! That chutney was a flavor-bomb!!
xoxo!
Heather Bruck says
Looks so good! Any tips for those of us who cant deal with cilantro?
Could you sub with another green leafy veg?
I’d say kale, parsley, or a small amount of mint might be nice!
Hallel says
This was delicious!
Thanks for sharing, Hallel!
Amanda says
Yum!!! I didn’t have avocado, I used a bit of cashew butter instead and a little mint. So good!
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Amanda! xo
Kelly says
Looks awesome I LOVE your recipies! So, we leave the skin on the sweet potatoes? That can be eaten, correct? Thanks for sharing your talent!
Yes! That’s where a lot of the fiber is :D
♥ Dana & James ♥ says
Yum Yum Yum!! These are great, spicy and protein packed! Definetly need to make a bigger batch next time. I will be using the sauce alot too. Thanks for the great recipe!
Your biggest fans,
♥ Dana & James ♥
xoxo!