Grain Bowl Obsession: Dream Bowl

Not sure what prompted me a few weeks ago to stop by Food on Pico.  Maybe it’s just that there was a parking spot. I was running errands during my lunch break and saw a parking spot right in front so I decided to run in and grab something to go so I could take it back to my office and eat at my desk.  Easy.

I was going to get a Caesar Salad, pretty much my go-to meal, but the Dream Bowl caught my eye.  It was the special that day.  OK.   Ordered it, bought it, grabbed it and went on my merry way.   I had no idea it would change my life.

Once I got back to my office and ate this grain bowl I could not stop thinking about it.   The next day I wanted to eat it but it was not available so I made it my mission to deconstruct and figure it out.  I did and have eaten it almost every day for about 2 weeks.  Obsessed.

It’s basically a grain bowl, with greens, vegetables, nuts and cheese with a little dressing on top.   But oh its so much more than that!!   This is a very forgiving recipe.  Add/subtract anything you want – change up the grains, the greens, the vegetables and the nuts to whatever you like and what is in season.

GRAINS
Quinoa & Farrow

GREENS
Cabbage & Kale

VEGETABLES
Squash & Sweet Potato
(optional  Avocado, Cucumber)

NUTS
Pepitas & Sunflower Seeds

CHEESE
Halloumi

DRESSING
Tumeric

GRAINS:   Cook grains according to package directions.   Mix it up if you don’t have or like these grains.
GREENS:  Make a rough chiffonade of the kale and thinly slice the cabbage (Savoy or Green).   Put in a separate bowl and toss with a a little Apple Cider Vinegar.
VEGETABLES:  Peel and cube the squash (Butternut, Kabocha, Acorn, etc) and the Sweet Potato, toss with olive oil, salt & pepper then either steam on stovetop/microwave or roast in 400 oven until tender.
NUTS:  Toss 1/2 cup each of Pepitas and Sunflower Seeds in a little olive oil and toast on stovetop until just starting to brown.   Add salt & pepper and set aside.
CHEESE:  Slice Halloumi cheese and in same pan used for Nuts grill the cheese until brown on both sides.
DRESSING:   Whisk together in bowl until smooth:

  • ¼ cup tahini
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive or coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • ¼ teaspoon Aleppo pepper (or Cayenne pepper)
  • 2-3 tablespoons water
  • salt & pepper

ASSEMBLY:   In serving bowl add in order

1/2 cup each of GRAINS
1/2 cup each of GREENS
1/2 cup each of VEGETABLES
2-3 slices of grilled Halloumi CHEESE
1/4 cup of NUTS
DRESSING to taste
Top with salt & pepper (to taste, the Halloumi might be salty), Aleppo Pepper & Zatar

OMG OMG OMG

DreamBowl

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