Harvest Kale Quinoa Bowl (Printable)

Hearty autumn bowl with roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, kale, and creamy lemon tahini dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables & Grains

01 - 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
02 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
03 - 4 cups kale, stems removed, chopped

→ Nuts & Fruit

04 - 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
05 - 1/3 cup dried cranberries

→ Cheese

06 - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

→ Lemon Tahini Dressing

07 - 1/4 cup tahini
08 - 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
11 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
12 - 2 to 3 tablespoons water
13 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Pantry

14 - 2 tablespoons olive oil for roasting
15 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss diced sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on the baking sheet.
02 - Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and tender.
03 - While sweet potatoes roast, combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups water and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
04 - Place chopped kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil and a pinch of salt. Massage gently for 1 to 2 minutes until leaves are soft and darkened.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, and 2 tablespoons water. Add more water as needed for a pourable consistency. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Divide cooked quinoa among 4 bowls. Top each with massaged kale, roasted sweet potatoes, pecans, cranberries, and blue cheese. Drizzle generously with lemon tahini dressing.
07 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate the components separately and assemble just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and actually tastes like you spent all day cooking.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble just before eating, which means less stress when people are coming over.
  • The tahini dressing is silky and tangy enough that you'll want to drizzle it on everything you make for the next week.
  • It's naturally vegetarian and gluten-free without feeling like you're missing anything.
02 -
  • The sweet potatoes need space on the pan or they'll steam instead of caramelize, which changes everything about the final texture and flavor.
  • Don't skip the massage step with kale—it truly transforms it from something that feels like you're eating a salad into something tender and craveable.
03 -
  • If your tahini dressing breaks or separates, don't panic—whisk in a tablespoon of warm water and it'll come back together smoothly.
  • Toasting your pecans in a dry skillet for just two minutes before chopping them adds a depth that completely elevates the entire bowl.
Return