Kale Harvest Grain Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant grain bowl with massaged kale, quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, apple, pomegranate, and pepitas in tangy dressing.

# What you'll need:

→ Grains & Greens

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 1 large bunch kale (about 6 cups), stems removed, leaves finely chopped

→ Roasted Vegetables

03 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Fresh Toppings

07 - 1 medium apple, cored and diced
08 - 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
09 - 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss diced sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and tender.
02 - While potatoes roast, combine quinoa with 2 cups water and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Place chopped kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with a small splash of olive oil and a pinch of salt, then massage kale with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until softened and dark green.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper until well combined.
05 - Divide massaged kale among four bowls. Top each with equal portions of quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, diced apple, pomegranate seeds, and pepitas.
06 - Drizzle each bowl with dressing just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like fall and feels like a reset, but it never gets boring because every bite is a different texture.
  • You can prep the components ahead and assemble bowls all week without anything getting soggy or sad.
02 -
  • Do not skip massaging the kale, it is the difference between chewy and tender, and it only takes two minutes.
  • If your quinoa tastes bitter, you did not rinse it enough, run it under cold water in a fine mesh strainer until the water runs clear.
03 -
  • Roast extra sweet potatoes, they are great on toast or stirred into scrambled eggs the next morning.
  • If your pomegranate seeds are expensive or out of season, dried cranberries soaked in warm water for five minutes work in a pinch.
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