Harvest Kale Quinoa Bowl (Print Version)

Wholesome bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, kale, and zesty lemon tahini.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables & Grains

01 - 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
02 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
03 - 4 cups kale, stems removed, chopped

→ Nuts & Fruit

04 - 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
05 - 1/3 cup dried cranberries

→ Cheese

06 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

→ Lemon Tahini Dressing

07 - 1/4 cup tahini
08 - 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
11 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
12 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water
13 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Pantry

14 - 2 tablespoons olive oil for roasting
15 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss diced sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on the baking sheet. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and tender.
03 - In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa with 2 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
04 - Place chopped kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with a small amount of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Massage gently for 1 to 2 minutes until leaves are soft and darkened.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, and 2 tablespoons water. Add additional water as needed to reach a pourable consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
06 - Divide cooked quinoa among 4 bowls. Top each with massaged kale, roasted sweet potatoes, pecans, cranberries, and blue cheese. Drizzle generously with lemon tahini dressing.
07 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate components separately and assemble just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a complete meal that feels like you're treating yourself, but comes together in less time than scrolling through your phone.
  • Every component can be prepped ahead, which means you can actually enjoy cooking for once instead of stressing.
  • The flavors balance each other so perfectly that even people who claim they don't like kale will ask for seconds.
02 -
  • Don't skip massaging the kale or use pre-bagged massaged kale, it loses something in transit and you need that tender texture here.
  • The dressing will thicken slightly as it sits, so make it a touch thinner than you think it needs to be and it'll be perfect by the time you drizzle it.
03 -
  • If your tahini dressing is still too thick after adding water, add a tiny splash of lemon juice instead, it thins it and makes it taste better.
  • Toast your pecans lightly in a dry pan before chopping them and you'll be amazed at how much more flavorful they become.
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