Lentil Power Bowl (Printable)

Tender lentils served over hearty grains with roasted vegetables and creamy tahini dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa or brown rice, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth

→ Lentils

03 - 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
04 - 2.5 cups water
05 - 1 bay leaf
06 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

07 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
08 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
09 - 1 zucchini, sliced
10 - 1 red onion, sliced
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Tahini Dressing

15 - 0.25 cup tahini
16 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
17 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
18 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
19 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
20 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Toppings

21 - 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
22 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
02 - Toss sweet potato, bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and tender.
03 - While vegetables roast, combine lentils, water, bay leaf, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes until lentils are tender. Drain excess water and discard bay leaf.
04 - In a separate pot, bring 2 cups of water or broth to a boil. Add quinoa or rice, reduce heat, cover, and cook according to package instructions, approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
05 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, water, maple syrup, garlic, and salt until smooth. Add extra water to reach desired consistency.
06 - Divide grains among bowls. Top with cooked lentils and roasted vegetables. Drizzle with tahini dressing and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and parsley. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and actually tastes like you spent way more time on it.
  • Every component can be prepped ahead, so you're really just assembling bowls when you're hungry.
  • The tahini dressing is so creamy and addictive you'll find yourself drizzling it on everything.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the lentils before cooking, because any dust or debris will make the final texture gritty.
  • The tahini will seem impossibly thick at first, but whisking with lemon juice and water transforms it into silk, so don't give up or add oil.
03 -
  • Don't skip the bay leaf when cooking lentils, as it adds a subtle depth that makes the whole bowl taste more complex.
  • If you roast your vegetables at a higher temperature like 450°F, you'll get deeper caramelization in about 20 minutes instead of 30, which is perfect when time is tight.
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