Harvest Kale Quinoa Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

Nourishing autumn bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, kale, pecans, and cranberries in 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

# Method:

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. Fluff with a fork.
04 - Place chopped kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with a little 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 for 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 the components separately and assemble just before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes when hunger strikes.
  • The textures play off each other in a way that keeps every bite interesting.
  • It tastes like fall without being heavy or leaving you sluggish.
  • Leftovers actually improve as the kale soaks up the dressing overnight.
02 -
  • Don't skip massaging the kale or it will taste chewy and bitter.
  • Roast the sweet potatoes in a single layer with space between them so they crisp up instead of steaming.
  • Thin the dressing more than you think you need to, it thickens as it sits.
03 -
  • Cut the sweet potatoes into small uniform cubes so they roast faster and more evenly.
  • Use a salad spinner to dry the kale completely after washing, wet leaves won't crisp or absorb the dressing.
  • Taste the dressing before serving and adjust with more lemon or maple syrup to balance the flavors.
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