Black-Eyed Pea Buddha Bowl (Printer-Friendly)

Vibrant nourishing bowl with black-eyed peas, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and tahini dressing.

# 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 Components

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

# Method:

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 3-4 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 for desired consistency.
06 - Divide quinoa between four serving 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 Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd think, making weeknight dinners feel less like a chore and more like self-care.
  • Every bowl tastes different depending on what vegetables you grab, so it never gets boring no matter how often you make it.
  • The tahini dressing is secretly the star—it ties everything together in a way that feels indulgent but totally plant-based.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing your quinoa—it makes the difference between a bitter grain and one that tastes clean and almost sweet.
  • The vegetables need proper space on the pan or they'll crowd and steam; two pans is better than one crowded sheet.
  • Your tahini dressing will thicken as it sits, so make it a touch thinner than you think is right, and it'll be perfect by the time you need it.
03 -
  • Don't add the avocado until you're actually assembling—oxidation happens faster than you'd expect, and a brown avocado on top looks sad.
  • If your tahini dressing breaks or looks separated, don't panic; just whisk in a bit more cold water and it'll come back together.
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