Black-Eyed Pea Buddha Bowl (Printable)

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

# Ingredient list:

→ 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 Components

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 additional as needed
21 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
22 - Salt to taste

# How-to:

01 - Set oven to 425°F and allow to reach full temperature.
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 running water. Combine quinoa, water, and salt in a 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. 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 additional water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
06 - Divide cooked quinoa evenly between four serving bowls. Top each bowl with roasted vegetables, warmed black-eyed peas, and fresh spinach or kale.
07 - Drizzle each bowl generously with tahini dressing. Garnish with avocado slices and fresh herbs. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in less than an hour, and you can prep components ahead for busy weeknights.
  • Every bite delivers different textures and temperatures, from warm roasted vegetables to cool avocado slices.
  • The tahini dressing is so creamy and garlicky that it makes you forget you're eating plant-based.
02 -
  • If your tahini dressing seems too thick, add water slowly—it thins faster than you expect and clumps are your friend because they disappear when you whisk.
  • Don't roast all your vegetables at the exact same time unless they're cut to similar sizes; the sweet potato takes longest, so cut it into smaller pieces than the other vegetables.
  • Fresh lemon juice in the tahini dressing is non-negotiable; bottled lemon juice will taste flat and defeat the purpose of the whole bowl.
03 -
  • For extra crunch and nutrition, toast pumpkin seeds or roasted chickpeas as a topping alternative when avocado is out of season.
  • A squeeze of fresh lime juice over the finished bowl adds brightness that lemon sometimes misses; try both and see which your palate prefers.
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