These were fun to make. You can of course make these at home or, if you have the equipment…make them outdoors.

I found this dish fresh, satisfying and it just felt nourishing to eat. This recipe is packed with skin loving acne-fighting ingredients, including:

Vitamin A (beta-carotene) – Sweet potatoes are loaded with a power anti-acne antioxidant. Beta-carotene has been shown to clinically help support skin cell health, helping to reduce inflammation and support skin quality and protection 1.

Shallot & Garlic – Otherwise known as allium vegetables, this group of sulphur containing plant foods not only act as prebiotic food for your gut bacteria, it has also been shown to support liver detox pathways – crucial for acne healing.

Parsley is another liver loving plant (herb). Herbs are not to be underestimated. Parsley is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory making it an ideal acne-fighting meal garnish. Herbs are generally anti-inflammatory and including a rotation of fresh herbs in your weekly diet is a great way to support skin healing. Herbs that are particular anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial are thyme, oregano, clove & sage 2.

Hydration – Cucumber and tomatoes are some of the highest water-content vegetables, which are a great way to nourish your skin barrier 3. Studies show that dry dehydrated skin leads to skin barrier irritation which can be an acne irritant.

Now, onto the recipe.

Ingredients (2 servings):

Fritters

• 1 Large sweet potato, grated
• Pinch of S&P
• 1 shallot, 1 garlic clove, minced

Cucumber & Tomato Salsa

• 1 small cucumber
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 beef tomato, chopped
• 4 tbsp parsley or coriander
• Pinch of S&P
• Juice of half a lime

Garnish

• Parsley or coriander
• A fried egg (or two)

Method:

Spread out the grated sweet potato onto a plate or surface, add a fried egg as a binder along with a pinch of salt and pepper, and minced garlic & shallot and mix. Allow the mixture to sit whilst you prep the salsa.

Prepping the salsa is simple. Take all of the ingredients and combine. Now allow that to sit whilst you make the fritters. Allowing the salsa to sit lets the moisture drop to the bottom of the bowl so that you can scoop the contents out without a ton of moisture being added to your plate.

Take a handful of sweet potato fritter mix and mould, with your hands, into 1cm thick patty shapes. Add to a hot oiled pan, and fry for approximately 8 minutes on both sides. Allow the temperature to be medium hot so that the inside of the fritter has time to cook through.

Now plate up. Add your salsa and top the fritters with a couple of fried eggs (I added one to the image for aesthetic purposes), however to support blood sugar feel free to add another egg…or two.

Enjoy!

References:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10451863/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.giv/articles/PMC5486105/

https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/ten-water-rich-foods-hydration