My friend Richard told me he was “trying to not get fat” during this time of social distancing. As a cook, most nights he prepares simple, healthy dishes, but last night he and his wife ordered in Mexican food: two margaritas each, nachos, pork fajitas, and refried beans — all smothered with sour cream and cheese.

I think an occasional splurge like Richard’s can be good for the soul, as long as it doesn’t happen too often. According to a recent Gallup poll, the stress of sheltering in place is contributing to an overall increase in poor diets and binge eating. No surprise!

And even though my healthy sweet potato soup may not hold a candle to the wickedness of a hearty Mexican feast, it was one of the best things I’ve eaten during the past six weeks — so sweet and creamy without any sugar or cream added. Just as importantly, it’s chock-full of vitamins, like A (in the form of antioxidant-rich beta-carotene) and C, as well as potassium and fiber.

And for someone like me whose taste buds were ravaged by the coronavirus, the soup’s silky texture alone is a good reason to prepare it. While I couldn’t taste all of the flavors, my family confirmed that it was, in fact, delicious. Enjoy alongside a salad for lunch, or with grilled fish, meat and veggies for dinner.

Wine Pairing (see below): 2018 Tenuta Regaleali Catarratto Antisa, a delicious, full-bodied white wine from Sicily.

Ingredients (Serves 4)

4 slices bacon, optional (but really adds a nice flavor if you use it)

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Pinch cayenne (optional)

3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

4 cups chicken or vegetable broth

Instructions

1) In a large soup pot over medium heat, cook bacon and then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool; crumble bacon and set aside. Remove all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat from pot, then add olive oil and heat over medium-low heat. Add onions to pan and cook until slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne, if using.

2) Add sweet potatoes and broth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.

3) Using an immersion blender, blend soup until smooth and creamy. Alternatively, use blender or food processor to blend it, returning soup to pot to gently heat. Ladle soup into bowls, sprinkle with crumbled bacon, and serve.

Wine Pairing

Tasca d’Almerita Tenuta Regaleali 2018 “Antisa” Catarratto ($22). Sicily’s Regaleali estate, in the Tasca family for almost two centuries, is situated to the southeast of Palermo in a hilly area where native grapes have thrived for centuries. Catarratto, Sicily’s most ancient white grape variety, is a full-bodied wine with notes of lemon, apple and peach. The word “Antisa” is a reference to the hopeful anticipation for the wine each year. Its rich texture and citrusy notes are a great complement to the creamy sweetness of the soup. Find the wine here.