Festive Lentil Bowl (Printable Version)
Nourishing lentils paired with roasted vegetables and zesty tahini for a vibrant, healthy meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Lentils
01 - 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
02 - 3 cups water
03 - 1 bay leaf
04 - 1 tsp salt
→ Roasted Vegetables
05 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
06 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
07 - 1 small red onion, cut into wedges
08 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
09 - 2 tbsp olive oil
10 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
11 - ½ tsp ground cumin
12 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Greens & Additions
13 - 4 cups baby spinach or kale
14 - ½ cup pomegranate seeds
15 - ¼ cup toasted pumpkin seeds
16 - ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
→ Tahini Dressing
17 - ¼ cup tahini
18 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
19 - 1 tbsp maple syrup
20 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
21 - 2–3 tbsp water
22 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine lentils, water, bay leaf, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20–25 minutes until tender but not mushy. Drain and discard bay leaf.
03 - Toss sweet potato, carrots, red onion, and bell pepper with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25–30 minutes, turning once, until golden and tender.
04 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, garlic, and enough water to reach a creamy, pourable consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
05 - Divide greens among four bowls. Top with warm lentils and roasted vegetables. Drizzle with tahini dressing.
06 - Garnish with pomegranate seeds, toasted pumpkin seeds, and feta (if using). Serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The tahini dressing ties everything together with a creamy tang that makes even vegetable skeptics go back for seconds
- You can prep all the components ahead and assemble in minutes when you're ready to eat
02 -
- The tahini dressing will seize up at first when you add the lemon juice but keep whisking and it will smooth out
- Warm lentils absorb the dressing better than cold ones, so assemble the bowls while everything is still hot
03 -
- Don't overcrowd the baking sheet when roasting vegetables or they'll steam instead of caramelize
- Toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes to bring out their nutty flavor before sprinkling them on top