Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Creamy Lime Tahini Sauce

Eating plant-based doesn’t have to feel complicated, time-consuming, or bland—in fact, some of the most satisfying meals come from simple ingredients transformed with bold flavors and nourishing textures. This vegan recipe for Smoky Chickpea–Cabbage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes is the perfect example of how a few wholesome staples can come together to create something vibrant, comforting, and deeply flavorful. Built entirely from plant-based ingredients, this dish celebrates the natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes, the smoky richness of seasoned chickpeas, and the crunchy freshness of red cabbage, all tied together with a creamy, tangy lime-tahini sauce that feels indulgent without relying on dairy.

Plant-based recipes like this one are a wonderful way to bring more color and nutrition into your everyday routine. Sweet potatoes offer a nourishing base packed with vitamins, fiber, and natural energy. Chickpeas provide protein and heartiness, giving this vegan meal a satisfying structure. Red cabbage brings brightness, antioxidants, and a little crunch, while sautéed onions deepen the savory flavor. What really elevates this recipe, though, is the luxurious sauce—made from tahini, avocado, and soaked cashews—which gives you all the velvety richness of a creamy dressing with none of the dairy. A splash of lime and simple seasonings create a balanced, versatile sauce that you’ll want to drizzle on everything.

Whether you’re fully vegan, exploring more plant-based meals, or simply looking to add a wholesome new recipe to your weekly rotation, this dish delivers comfort and nourishment in every bite. It’s easy enough for busy weeknights yet flavorful enough to serve for a cozy weekend dinner. Above all, it highlights the creative possibilities of vegan cooking—where vegetables, legumes, and plant-powered staples come together to create a meal that is both incredibly good for you and genuinely delicious.

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Creamy Lime Tahini Sauce

Serves 2

This cozy, nutrient-rich vegan meal brings together roasted sweet potatoes, smoky sautéed chickpeas and cabbage, and a velvety lime–tahini–avocado sauce that ties everything together. It’s simple, flavorful, and deeply satisfying.

Ingredients

For the Sweet Potatoes

• 2 medium sweet potatoes

• 1–2 teaspoons olive oil

• Salt & black pepper

• 1–2 teaspoons vegan butter (optional, for mashing)

For the Chickpea–Cabbage Filling

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 small yellow onion, diced

• 1 cup finely diced red cabbage

• 1 cup cooked chickpeas (or canned, drained and rinsed)

• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

• Salt & black pepper, to taste

For the Creamy Lime Tahini Sauce

• 2 tablespoons tahini

• 1/4 cup soaked cashews (soak in warm water 15–20 minutes)

• 1/2 ripe avocado

• 1/4 cup plant milk (almond, oat, or soy)

• 2–4 tablespoons cold water, as needed

• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

1. Bake the Sweet Potatoes

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).

2. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes, then pierce each several times with a fork.

3. Rub lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt.

4. Bake on a lined sheet for 45–55 minutes, or until very soft.

5. Once cool enough to handle, slice open and scoop/mash the insides with vegan butter, salt, and pepper. Keep warm.

2. Make the Chickpea–Cabbage Filling

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

2. Add diced onions and cook 3–4 minutes until softened.

3. Add red cabbage and sauté another 3 minutes.

4. Add chickpeas, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.

5. Cook 3–5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until everything is warmed and slightly caramelized. Remove from heat.

3. Make the Creamy Lime Tahini Sauce

1. Add tahini, soaked cashews, avocado, plant milk, lime juice, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, olive oil, and 2 tablespoons cold water to a blender.

2. Blend until very smooth.

3. Add more water as needed to reach a pourable, creamy consistency. Taste and adjust salt or lime.

4. Combine the Filling

1. Pour about half of the sauce over the warm chickpea–cabbage mixture.

2. Toss to fully coat. Add a splash more sauce if desired.

5. Assemble

1. Fill each mashed sweet potato with the smoky chickpea–cabbage mixture.

2. Drizzle additional tahini sauce on top.

3. Add a crack of pepper or a sprinkle of smoked paprika to finish.

Serving Suggestions

• Top with chopped parsley or cilantro

• Serve with a crisp green salad or roasted broccoli

• Extra sauce keeps 3–4 days refrigerated

A truly nourishing plant-based recipe should offer more than great flavor—it should provide balanced nutrition, sustained energy, and ingredients that support overall health and wellbeing. These Smoky Chickpea–Cabbage Stuffed Sweet Potatoes check every box. Built around whole foods, rich colors, and nutrient-dense staples, this vegan recipe delivers an impressive combination of vitamins, minerals, plant protein, and healthy fats. It’s a meal designed not just to satisfy your appetite but to energize your body, support digestion, and promote long-term wellness.

The foundation of the dish—sweet potatoes—offers one of the most nutritious bases you can choose. Sweet potatoes are naturally high in beta-carotene, which the body converts into Vitamin A, supporting immune health, vision, and skin integrity. Their complex carbohydrates digest slowly, providing steady energy without blood sugar spikes. They’re also an excellent source of fiber, which promotes healthy digestion, supports gut health, and helps keep you full longer. When mashed with just a touch of vegan butter, they become both comforting and nutritionally balanced.

Chickpeas add another essential layer of wellness benefits. As a plant-based protein, chickpeas offer amino acids, fiber, and minerals like iron, zinc, and magnesium. They help keep your blood sugar stable, support muscle repair, and contribute to long-lasting satiety—an important aspect of plant-based eating. When combined with red cabbage and onions, the chickpea mixture becomes not just flavorful but also antioxidant-rich. Red cabbage, in particular, is packed with anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants linked to reduced inflammation, improved heart health, and cellular protection. Onions add prebiotics, which nourish beneficial gut bacteria and support digestive health.

The sauce, though creamy and indulgent in flavor, is made entirely from nutrient-dense vegan ingredients. Tahini contributes calcium, healthy fats, and B vitamins. The soaked cashews provide plant-based creaminess along with copper, magnesium, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. Avocado adds even more healthy fats, supporting brain function, skin health, and nutrient absorption. Lime juice brightens the sauce while offering vitamin C, which helps with collagen formation and immune support. Even the olive oil adds benefits—it is widely recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties and role in supporting cardiovascular health. Together, these ingredients form a sauce that is satisfying without relying on processed dairy alternatives or heavy oils.

Beyond the nutritional breakdown, this recipe also supports holistic wellbeing. It’s naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free, making it accessible to a wide range of dietary needs. The blend of fiber, protein, and healthy fats helps promote stable energy throughout the day, reducing the likelihood of crashes or cravings. The antioxidants from the vegetables reinforce internal balance, helping to counteract oxidative stress. And because the recipe uses gentle, whole-food seasonings like smoked paprika, garlic powder, and lime juice, it’s flavorful while still being kind to digestion.

Finally, the simplicity of the dish contributes to wellness in another essential way: it’s manageable. Eating well feels much more sustainable when recipes are straightforward and enjoyable to prepare. This plant-based meal requires no special equipment, uses everyday ingredients, and comes together with minimal stress—making healthy eating not only possible but pleasurable. In every way, this vegan recipe is a wellness-supportive choice that nourishes both body and mind.