Florencia Baldini Last Updated on May 26, 2026If you’ve spent any time on food social media, you’ve probably seen some version of the sweet potato, beef and cottage cheese bowl going viral. At first, I wasn’t completely convinced the ingredients would work together. Cottage cheese with spiced beef and sweet potato? It sounded a little unusual. But once I tried it, I completely understood why this combination is everywhere.
The base of this bowl starts with sweet potatoes cooked in the air fryer until golden and tender. They bring natural sweetness and fibre, which pairs beautifully with the savoury shawarma-spiced beef. The beef cooks quickly in the pan and fills the kitchen with that unmistakable Middle Eastern aroma of warm spices.
Then comes the creamy element: cottage cheese. It might sound unexpected in a shawarma bowl, but it works beautifully here. It adds a boost of protein and a light creamy texture that balances the richness of the beef and the sweetness of the potatoes.
Fresh avocado, vibrant sumac pickled onions and a sprinkle of parsley finish everything off, bringing brightness, acidity and freshness to every bite. If you like a little heat, a drizzle of honey and chilli on top creates the most delicious sweet-spicy contrast.
This is the kind of bowl that leaves you feeling satisfied for hours. It’s naturally high in protein and fibre, packed with colourful ingredients, and easy enough to make even on busy evenings.
Cooking The Sweet Potato
I like to cook the sweet potatoes in the air fryer because it’s quick and gives them slightly crisp edges while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. Simply toss the diced sweet potatoes with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder and a pinch of salt, then air fry at 200°C for about 15 minutes until tender and lightly golden.
If you don’t have an air fryer, the oven works perfectly too. Spread the seasoned sweet potatoes on a lined baking tray and roast at 200°C fan for about 20–25 minutes, turning halfway through, until soft and lightly caramelised.
Cooking The Beef Mince
Cook the beef mince in a hot non-stick frying pan over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Let it brown properly before stirring too much, as this helps develop deeper flavour and a better texture. Once the beef is mostly cooked through, add the shawarma spice mix and continue cooking for a couple of minutes until the spices become fragrant and evenly coat the meat. The result is savoury, well-seasoned beef with warm Middle Eastern flavours that pairs beautifully with the sweet potatoes and creamy cottage cheese.
Find All The Ingredients At Ocado
I genuinely love shopping at Ocado because it has everything I need for my recipes — and often ingredients I can’t easily find elsewhere. The quality is consistently high, the range is brilliant, and it makes creating balanced, nourishing meals so much easier. Every ingredient in this recipe came from Ocado, and when you start with good-quality produce, the final result really does taste better.
M&S Sweet Potatoes and Shawarma Spice Mix
For this recipe I used M&S Sweet Potatoes and their Shawarma Kebab Seasoning, which makes this bowl even quicker to prepare. The shawarma mix is a brilliant shortcut because it brings all those warm Middle Eastern spices—like cumin, paprika and garlic—into one blend, without needing to buy several different spices you might only use once. It’s an easy way to get lots of flavour with very little effort.
Ocado Lean Beef Mince and Avocado
For this recipe I used Ocado Lean Beef Mince and avocados from Ocado, which are staples I buy almost every week. The lean beef mince is great for high-protein meals like this one, and the quality is always consistent. And let me tell you, the Ocado avocados have never let me down. Since I started ordering them, I genuinely don’t think I’ve had a bad one. They’re always perfectly ripe and ready to eat, which makes them incredibly convenient for quick meals like this bowl.
‘Vadusz’ Pickled Onions
For the pickled onions, I used Vadasz Pickled Red Onions. Of course, homemade pickled onions are always great, but when I don’t have time to make my own, this is by far the best brand I’ve tried. They have the perfect balance of tangy, slightly sweet and vibrant flavour. I actually buy them almost every week because they instantly lift salads, bowls and sandwiches with very little effort.
‘All Things Cottage Cheese’ Natural
For the cottage cheese, I used All Things Cottage Cheese Natural. It works perfectly in savoury bowls like this one. It adds a great boost of protein while keeping the dish light and fresh. The texture is smooth and rich, which makes it ideal for pairing with warm ingredients like the spiced beef and roasted sweet potatoes. The branding is so cool too and really stands out.
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*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links with Ocado. I may earn a small commission if you choose to shop through my link, at no extra cost to you. As always, I only recommend brands I genuinely use and love.
Swaps
Beef: Lamb mince, turkey mince or even chicken mince can work instead of beef.
Cottage Cheese: Greek yoghurt or labneh will give a similar creamy texture and protein boost.
Sweet Potato: Butternut squash or regular potatoes can replace the sweet potato.
Pickled Onions: Quick-pickled red onions or even thinly sliced raw onion work well.
Storage
Fridge: Eat within 2 days for the best texture and flavour.
More High Protein Lunches
Sweet Potato, Beef And Cottage Cheese Bowl
Video
Ingredients
- 1 medium sweet potato, about 300 g, peeled and diced
- 2 tsp olive oil
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 200 g lean beef mince, 5% fat
- 1 tbsp shawarma spice mix
- 200 g cottage cheese
- ½ avocado, about 70 g flesh, sliced
- 2 tbsp pickled onions, I added a pinch of sumac
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Honey, to drizzle (optional)
- Chilli flakes, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 200°C.
- Add the diced sweet potatoes to a bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil and season with paprika, garlic powder and salt. Toss well until evenly coated.
- Transfer the sweet potatoes to the air fryer basket and cook for about 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until tender and lightly golden.
- Meanwhile, heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add the beef mince and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Stir in the shawarma spice mix and cook until the beef is browned and fragrant. Add salt to taste.
- To assemble the bowls, divide the sweet potatoes between two bowls. Add the cooked beef and spoon over the cottage cheese.
- Top with the sliced avocado, sumac pickled onions and a sprinkle of fresh parsley. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Finish with a light drizzle of honey and a pinch of chilli flakes if you like a little sweet heat. Serve immediately.