I am concluding this week of tea party food with an unconventional hors d’oeuvres featuring a combination that I love: sweet potato, goat cheese, and arugula.
Traditionally, the stars of the tea party spread are finger sandwiches. Popular combinations include:
Tomato and cheddar
Cucumber and cream cheese
Artichoke and cheese
Smoked salmon and caper
While I love these customary savory bites, I wanted to bring my own personal spin of ingredients and flavors. In this recipe, sweet potato rounds replace the bread while goat cheese is utilized for the spread. Sweet potato is a sweet and starchy vegetable that is packed with nutrition and flavor. While many may be apprehensive at first to have it replace the bread component, it is worth the try for those looking for a more nutritious (and tasty!) affair. Tea party or not, these are a fun appetizer to serve on any occasion.
Nutrition:
Sweet Potato: Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant and precursor to vitamin A. These starchy tubers are also rich in vitamin C, manganese, and copper. Their high fiber content may be attributed to their ability to improve blood sugar regulation, even in those with diabetes mellitus.
Goat Cheese: Goat cheese is lower in fat than other popular cheeses while still rich in flavor. Like most dairy, goat cheese is a potent source of calcium, which is important for maintaining the strength and density of our bones. Because of the structure of fat in goat milk, goat cheese has been shown to be easily digested, especially in those with a suspected intolerance to lactose present in conventional dairy.
Arugula: Arugula often gets overshadowed by its more popular leafy green counterparts. It is comparable in nutrient-density to kale and spinach and has a peppery kick.
- 3 large sweet potatoes
- 2-3 oz goat cheese
- Organic arugula
- Preheat your oven to 400 F.
- Line a baking sheet.
- Slice your sweet potatoes into rounds and spread out on lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Allow your sweet potato rounds to cool.
- Spread a dollop of goat cheese on each round and garnish with 2 arugula leaves in the center to make a mini sandwich.
- Serve on a raised platter.
