Warm Salad Bowl (Printable)

Hearty grain bowl with roasted vegetables, wilted greens, and warm vinaigrette. Perfect wholesome meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

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

→ Roasted Vegetables

03 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
04 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
05 - 1 small red onion, sliced
06 - 1 small zucchini, sliced
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Greens

10 - 4 cups baby spinach or kale, stems removed

→ Warm Vinaigrette

11 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
15 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
16 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Toppings

17 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese, optional
18 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds, optional
19 - Fresh herbs such as parsley or cilantro, chopped, optional

# How-To:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss sweet potato, bell pepper, onion, and zucchini with 2 tablespoons olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on the baking sheet and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and golden.
03 - Combine quinoa or brown rice with water or broth in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes for quinoa or according to package directions for rice, until grains are tender and liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork.
04 - In a small pan over low heat, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper for 1 to 2 minutes until just warm.
05 - In a large bowl, toss spinach or kale with half the warm vinaigrette, allowing the greens to wilt slightly.
06 - Divide cooked grains among four bowls. Top with wilted greens, roasted vegetables, and optional toppings. Drizzle with remaining warm vinaigrette and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and honestly feels fancier than the effort requires.
  • The warm vinaigrette wilts the greens just enough so they're not raw and sad, but still vibrant and crunchy in places.
  • You can roast your vegetables while the grains cook, so there's barely any active time spent standing at the stove.
  • Every bite has texture and temperature contrast, which keeps things interesting from first spoonful to last.
02 -
  • Don't rinse your quinoa too aggressively or you'll lose some of its delicate texture, just a quick gentle rinse under cold water is enough to remove the saponin coating.
  • The warm vinaigrette is essential—a cold dressing on this bowl feels completely different and somehow less satisfying, so don't skip that small pan step.
  • Your vegetables won't continue cooking much after you pull them out, so aim for that golden-brown stage rather than waiting for them to look darker than you think they should be.
03 -
  • Stir your roasting vegetables halfway through so they brown evenly on both sides and develop those caramelized edges that make all the difference.
  • Make sure your vinaigrette is actually warm when it hits the greens—that warmth is what softens them and helps them absorb the flavors, so don't let it cool down while you're prepping.
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