Description
This Spiced Winter Bowl is a comforting and nutritious dish perfect for warming up on chilly days. Combining fluffy quinoa with a medley of sautéed vegetables and aromatic spices, it delivers a hearty and flavorful meal that’s both vegan and gluten-free. Bursting with wholesome ingredients like sweet potatoes, kale, and warming spices such as cumin, coriander, and cinnamon, this bowl is ideal for a healthy lunch or dinner during the colder months.
Ingredients
Scale
Grains
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups vegetable broth
Vegetables
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup carrots, diced
- 1 cup sweet potatoes, diced
- 1 cup kale, chopped
Spices and Oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse Quinoa: Rinse the quinoa thoroughly under cold water using a fine mesh sieve to remove its natural coating, which can cause bitterness, then drain well.
- Cook Quinoa: In a pot, bring the vegetable broth to a boil. Add the rinsed quinoa, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for about 15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is tender.
- Sauté Aromatics: While the quinoa cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic; sauté them until they become translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Toast Spices: Stir in the cumin, coriander, and cinnamon to the skillet with onions and garlic, cooking for about 1 minute to release their aromas and deepen their flavors.
- Cook Vegetables: Add the diced carrots and sweet potatoes to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, which should take about 10 minutes.
- Add Kale: Stir the chopped kale into the skillet and cook until it wilts, about 2-3 minutes, mixing well with the other vegetables.
- Combine and Serve: Transfer the cooked quinoa into the skillet with the vegetable and spice mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste, stir everything together well, and serve the warm bowl immediately.
Notes
- For added protein, consider topping the bowl with toasted nuts or seeds such as pumpkin seeds or walnuts.
- You can substitute the vegetable broth with water for a lighter flavor.
- Feel free to swap out the vegetables for seasonal produce like butternut squash or Brussels sprouts.
- This dish reheats well and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To make it spicier, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red chili flakes when toasting the spices.
