Black-Eyed Pea Buddha Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant bowl with black-eyed peas, quinoa, roasted vegetables, and creamy tahini dressing for a balanced plant-based meal.

# What you 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 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 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

# How to make it:

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 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 with tahini dressing. Garnish with avocado slices and chopped herbs. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd expect, with most components cooking simultaneously so you're not standing over the stove for hours.
  • Every bite delivers different textures and temperatures, from creamy avocado to crispy roasted edges, keeping your palate genuinely interested.
  • The tahini dressing is silky and complex enough to make you feel like you've unlocked a secret, yet it requires just five ingredients.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa, or you'll taste a subtle bitterness that undermines the whole dish's delicate flavor balance.
  • The tahini dressing thickens as it cools, so make it slightly looser than your final desired consistency and it will be perfect by the time you drizzle it.
  • Assemble bowls to order rather than prepping them ahead, because the raw greens will soften and the dressing will separate if sitting together for more than a few minutes.
03 -
  • Roast your vegetables slightly underdone if you're making these bowls ahead, since residual heat and warm dressing will continue softening them as you assemble.
  • Toast pumpkin seeds or hemp seeds separately and sprinkle them on right before serving for a textural element that stays crispy and adds nutritional density.
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