Black-Eyed Pea Buddha Bowl (Printer View)

A wholesome plant-based bowl featuring black-eyed peas, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and velvety tahini dressing for complete nutrition.

# Components:

→ 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 or 1 can drained and rinsed
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Fresh Ingredients

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 brown.
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 to 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 as needed to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Divide quinoa between four bowls. Top with roasted vegetables, black-eyed peas, and fresh spinach or kale.
07 - Drizzle tahini dressing over each bowl. Garnish with avocado slices and chopped fresh herbs. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together while you're still awake: Everything cooks at the same time, so you're eating in under an hour.
  • Your body actually feels good after: Real protein, real fiber, and nothing heavy sitting in your stomach.
  • It tastes completely different every time: Swap the vegetables based on what your farmers market has that week and it stays fresh.
02 -
  • Don't mix your dressing into the bowl: It's tempting to stir everything together, but keep the dressing separate until you're about to eat it so the vegetables stay textured and the greens don't wilt into mush.
  • The quality of your tahini changes everything: I learned this the hard way when I grabbed whatever was cheapest and the dressing tasted like sadness; invest in tahini that tastes nutty and alive, and your whole bowl transforms.
03 -
  • Make the tahini dressing the night before: The flavors deepen and meld overnight, and you'll actually have time to eat breakfast instead of scrambling in the morning.
  • Cook double the grain and vegetables on Sunday: This bowl is the kind of meal that deserves to be made once and eaten twice, and having components ready changes the entire week.
Return