Black-Eyed Pea Buddha Bowl (Printer-friendly)

Hearty grain bowl with spiced black-eyed peas, roasted sweet potato and vegetables, fresh greens, and tangy tahini drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grain Base

01 - 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

04 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
06 - 1 small red onion, sliced
07 - 1 small zucchini, sliced
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Black-Eyed Peas

11 - 2 cups cooked black-eyed peas
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Fresh Ingredients

14 - 2 cups baby spinach or kale
15 - 1 avocado, sliced
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped

→ Tahini Dressing

17 - 1/4 cup tahini
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
19 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
20 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
21 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
22 - Salt to taste

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F.
02 - Toss sweet potato, bell pepper, red onion, and zucchini with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and golden.
03 - Rinse quinoa under cold water. Combine quinoa, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
04 - In a small skillet over medium heat, warm black-eyed peas with cumin and garlic powder for 3 to 4 minutes until heated through.
05 - In a bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, water, minced garlic, and salt until smooth. Add more water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Divide quinoa between four bowls. Top with roasted vegetables, black-eyed peas, and fresh spinach or kale.
07 - Drizzle with tahini dressing. Garnish with avocado slices and chopped herbs. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a one-bowl meal: No side dishes needed, no excuses about having nothing to eat.
  • Built for flexibility: Swap vegetables based on what's in your fridge and feel zero guilt about it.
  • The tahini dressing is addictive: Once you nail this creamy, tangy sauce, you'll find yourself drizzling it on everything.
  • Tastes even better the next day: Pack it for lunch and the flavors deepen and settle together beautifully.
02 -
  • Spacing matters when roasting: Crowded vegetables steam instead of caramelize, so use a large enough baking sheet or roast in batches—this is the difference between mediocre and spectacular.
  • The tahini dressing is thinner than you think it should be: I learned this by making it too thick the first time, and it basically turned into tahini paste that wouldn't coat the bowl; thin it out.
  • Don't let the greens sit in the dressing too long: If you're making this ahead, keep the greens separate and add them just before serving so they don't wilt into mush.
03 -
  • Roast your vegetables hot and don't crowd the pan: This one move separates good roasted vegetables from transcendent ones; give them space and let them caramelize.
  • Make extra tahini dressing: This sauce is liquid gold and you'll want it on everything once you taste it—salads, roasted vegetables, wraps, everything.
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