Hearty Winter Grain Bowl (Printable version)

Warm grains with roasted root vegetables, sautéed greens, and creamy tahini dressing for cozy winter meals.

# What You Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup farro or quinoa
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water

→ Roasted Root Vegetables

03 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
04 - 2 parsnips, peeled and diced
05 - 1 small sweet potato, peeled and cubed
06 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
07 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Greens

10 - 4 cups kale or Swiss chard, stems removed and chopped
11 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - Pinch of salt

→ Dressing

14 - 1/4 cup tahini
15 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
17 - 2 tablespoons warm water, plus more as needed
18 - 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
19 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Toppings

20 - 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
21 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, optional
22 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
02 - In a large bowl, toss carrots, parsnips, and sweet potato with olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and tender.
03 - Rinse grains thoroughly. In a medium saucepan, combine grains and broth or water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until tender, approximately 20 minutes for quinoa or 30 minutes for farro. Drain any excess liquid.
04 - In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add chopped greens and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
05 - In a bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, warm water, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth and creamy. Add additional water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Divide warm cooked grains evenly between serving bowls. Top each with roasted vegetables and sautéed greens. Drizzle generously with tahini dressing.
07 - Garnish each bowl with toasted pumpkin seeds, crumbled feta cheese if desired, and chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd expect, with most of the work happening while you're doing something else.
  • Every component can be prepped ahead, making it perfect for meal prep or last-minute dinner guests.
  • The tahini dressing is so creamy and tangy you won't miss anything heavy.
02 -
  • Don't crowd your roasting pan or the vegetables will steam instead of caramelize—give them space to actually touch the hot sheet pan.
  • Tahini separates, so if yours has oil on top, stir it in before you use it, or your dressing will be too thick and grainy.
03 -
  • Warm your bowls before serving—it sounds fussy but it keeps the grains and vegetables actually hot instead of cooling down while you eat.
  • Make double the dressing because you'll want it on salads, roasted vegetables, and probably straight from a spoon while you're standing at the counter.
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