By Volunteer Writer| Posted: March 01, 2019

This is the time of year where we dig our heels in and stay grounded, lest the winter winds and cold air pull us up, up, and away!

If you’re ready to dig your heels in, then this is the recipe for you. The warm, moist, heavier qualities of sweet potato, brown rice, nuts, and spices are great for grounding and nourishing us in the midst of the freezing February weather.

As their name suggests, sweet potatoes are sweet in nature, with the ability to pacify winter’s vata (cold, light, dry, rough) tendencies. They’re a good source of fiber and offer the benefits of beta carotene and vitamin A. As root vegetables, they’re grounding and their sweetness pairs nicely with the toasted nuts, grains, and spices in this recipe.

Loaded with protein and fiber, nuts and brown rice are also acidic in nature. Their acidic quality serves to heat the body and keep us warm in winter. In this case, acidity is beneficial!

These unctuous patties are sure to please.

Sweet Potato & Brown Rice Patties

1 large sweet potato, baked, peeled, and mashed
1 cup brown rice, soaked overnight in water, drained, and rinsed
About 3 tbsp ghee for sautéing vegetables, and then sautéing or baking the patties
2 cups vegetable broth
1 medium carrot, grated
1 large or 2 small stalks of celery, minced
1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground fennel
2 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp mineral salt
2 tbsp finely chopped toasted pecans or hazelnuts
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp arrowroot powder (you may need to add more as you go, depending on how the food cooperates in binding)

Directions

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, heat the ghee, and add the ginger, carrot, and celery. Sauté until soft.

2. Stir in the cumin, coriander, fennel, cardamom, and mineral salt.

3. Add the vegetable broth, bring it to a boil, and then stir in the rice.

4. Simmer on low to medium heat until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is soft.

5. Remove the rice from the stove, and add the nuts, parsley, turmeric, and arrowroot powder, and stir.

6. Add the sweet potato and combine well. You may need to add water as you go to get the desired consistency to form the patties.

7. Form the patties and bake on a baking pan coated with some ghee, or sauté with ghee in a skillet.

Makes about 8 patties.

This article was originally published on the Art of Living Retreat Center blog.