Sweet Potato Empanada

If you’re craving something cozy, flavorful, and easy to make, these sweet potato empanadas check every box. A cheesy yam dough wrapped around a spiced black-bean filling? Yes, please. They fry up beautifully in just a few minutes and disappear even faster.

December 9, 2025

Sweet Potato Empanada

Steps:

First, wash hands and surfaces.
Next, wash, peel, and dice red onion.
In a sauté pan, over medium heat add 1 Tbsp. of olive oil along with onions, black beans, garlic, salt, and onion powder. Cook for about 5-7 minutes. Set aside.
Using a wet paper towel, clean the top of the yam can and drain.
In a medium bowl, add in corn meal, yams, and cheese, mix until combined.
Roll 12 balls of dough and using a plate covered in saran wrap, flatten to 1/2 inch thickness.
Add 2 Tbsp. of bean mixture to the center and fold dough in half, pinching the ends closed.
Add 1 tbs of olive oil into a sauté pan and cook each side for 2-3 mins until golden brown.
Store in the refrigerator 2-3 day or uncooked in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Meet your new favorite handheld meal: sweet potato empanadas with a hearty, garlicky bean filling. They’re budget-friendly, satisfying, and surprisingly simple — the kind of recipe you’ll want to double so you can freeze extras for later.

Empanada De Camote

Primero, lávese las manos y las superficies.
Luego, lave, pele y pique la cebolla morada.
En una sartén, a fuego medio, agregue 1 cucharada de aceite de oliva junto con la cebolla, los frijoles negros, el ajo, la sal y la cebolla en polvo. Cocine durante unos 5-7 minutos. Reserve.
Con una toalla de papel húmeda, limpie la parte superior de la lata de ñame y escúrrala.
En un tazón mediano, agregue la harina de maíz, el ñame y el queso; mezcle hasta que se integren.
Forme 12 bolas de masa y, con un plato cubierto con film transparente, aplánelas hasta que tengan un grosor de 1,27 cm.
Agregue 2 cucharadas de la mezcla de frijoles al centro y doble la masa por la mitad, cerrando los extremos con los dedos.
Agregue 1 cucharada de aceite de oliva a una sartén y cocine cada lado durante 2-3 minutos hasta que esté dorado.
Conserve en el refrigerador de 2 a 3 días o, sin cocinar, en el congelador de 2 a 3 meses.

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Learn More

About the Healthy Habits program:

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s community nutrition team develops and shares nutritious, budget-friendly recipes that allow pantry guests at our member agencies to explore new ways to enjoy accessible foods, including seasonal, fresh, canned, and frozen produce.

Through our Healthy Habits program, our team of culinary and nutrition professionals work directly with the Food Bank’s network of partner agencies and their guests to provide relevant, practical, and science-based nutrition information to our communities.

For more information: https://rifoodbank.org/community-nutrition/

About the Food Bank:

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Providence, RI, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank (“the Food Bank” or “RI Food Bank”) serves as the central hub for food distribution across its state-wide network of 147 member agencies/food pantries, ensuring that nutritious food reaches those who need it most. Through donations, federal programs, and community partnerships, the Food Bank works to improve the quality of life for all Rhode Islanders by advancing solutions to the problem of hunger.

The RI Food Bank is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Rhode Island Community Food Bank │ 200 Niantic Avenue, Providence RI 02907 │ (401) 942-6325 (main) │ rifoodbank.org