Harvest Kale Quinoa Bowl (Printer Friendly)

Roasted sweet potatoes and quinoa with massaged kale, pecans, cranberries, blue cheese, and lemon tahini dressing.

# What You 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 for thinning
13 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Pantry

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

# Directions:

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 baking sheet. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and tender.
03 - Combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups water and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. 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 achieve 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.

# Pro Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in 45 minutes with zero fancy techniques, so weeknight dinner doesn't feel rushed.
  • Everything tastes better the next day, which means meal prep becomes something you actually enjoy doing.
  • The lemon tahini dressing is so good you'll find yourself pouring it over things that have nothing to do with kale.
02 -
  • Don't skip the massage step with the kale—it's the difference between a salad that feels rough in your mouth and one that's actually pleasant to eat.
  • Always taste the dressing before assembling bowls; every lemon is different, so you might need more salt or an extra squeeze of juice to balance the flavors.
03 -
  • Cook your quinoa in vegetable or chicken broth instead of water for a subtle depth of flavor that makes the whole bowl taste more intentional.
  • Make the dressing the day before so the garlic mellows and the flavors have time to marry together into something more cohesive.
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