Protein Sweet Potato Boats

Name: Protein Sweet Potato Boats
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 2-4 servings
Cuisine: Middle Eastern-inspired
Ingredients: 2 large sweet potatoes; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 shallots, thinly sliced; 1 lb (450 g) ground beef; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; Salt, to taste; Black pepper, to taste; 6–8 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped (about 1/2 cup); 2 tablespoons tahini; Hot honey, for drizzling (about 1–2 tablespoons); Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or chopped nuts (e.g., pistachios)

main course · Middle Eastern-inspired

Credit: Justin Schuble | DCFoodPorn

Roasted sweet potatoes stuffed with a spiced ground beef and date mixture, finished with tahini and hot honey for a sweet-savory, protein-packed meal.

Added Jan 14, 2026

Prep time

15 min

Cook time

60 min

Servings

2-4 servings

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 shallots, thinly sliced

1 lb (450 g) ground beef

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Salt, to taste

Black pepper, to taste

6–8 Medjool dates, pitted and chopped (about 1/2 cup)

2 tablespoons tahini

Hot honey, for drizzling (about 1–2 tablespoons)

Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or chopped nuts (e.g., pistachios)

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through. Variations: swap ground beef for ground lamb, turkey, or plant-based ground meat; use maple syrup or regular honey if you don't have hot honey; add a pinch of cayenne for extra heat. To speed up the cook time, bake sweet potatoes in the microwave (5–10 minutes depending on size) before finishing in the oven or assembling.

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Scrub the sweet potatoes, pat dry, and pierce several times with a fork.

Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and roast in the preheated oven until tender when pierced with a fork, about 45–60 minutes depending on size.

While the potatoes roast, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the sliced shallots and cook until softened and translucent, about 3–4 minutes.

Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and mostly cooked through, about 6–8 minutes.

Stir in the cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Continue to cook 1–2 minutes to bloom the spices.

Add the chopped dates to the beef mixture and cook until the dates soften and the mixture is saucy and well combined, about 2–3 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

When sweet potatoes are done, let them cool slightly. Slice each potato lengthwise and gently fluff the flesh with a fork to make room for the filling.

Spoon the warm beef-and-date mixture into each sweet potato boat.

Drizzle each stuffed sweet potato with tahini and a drizzle of hot honey. Sprinkle optional garnish if using and serve warm.