Thai Peanut Quinoa Bowls

Thai Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:

1c. peanut butter

1c. coconut milk

1/2c. fresh lime juice (about 4 limes)

1/4c. + 1Tbsp soy sauce

1/2c. agave nectar

garlic powder (to taste)

Sriracha (to taste)

Directions: 

Combine peanut butter, coconut milk, lime juice, soy sauce and agave nectar. Whisk until smooth. Add garlic powder and Sriracha to desired taste. Serve however you desire. If you would like to know how I used it-continue reading. :)

Thai Peanut Quinoa Veggie Bowls

So, I went to visit some good friends in Atlanta this past weekend, and was lucky enough to enjoy some great food while I was there (enjoying the great company too of course!). The first place we went to was a place called R. Thomas http://www.rthomasdeluxegrill.net/ which had so much stuff on the menu that I wanted to try, that I thought my brain might explode. Luckily for me, that did not happen. I finally decided on their Thai Express bowl with tempeh, at the suggestion of my friend which he based on several yelp reviews he remembered stating that the Thai Express Bowl was delicious http://www.yelp.com/biz/r-thomas-deluxe-grill-atlanta. It was delicious! We also got the banana chocolate chip cake which was phenomenal as well!! How I now wish I was back there enjoying a piece of that cake right now... Ah well, back to my recreation. Well I got back late last night and I have been craving that bowl ever since I ate it on Saturday, so I decided I would make my own version, and hopefully it would tie me over until the next time I visit. So, here you go! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Ingredients:

1c. quinoa

2c. vegetable broth

about 1/2 c. thai peanut sauce for sauteing the vegetables (see recipe above) + additional amounts for each serving to be added by lucky eater to their own taste preferences (amount differs by taste level).

1 1/2c cauliflower florets (cut into small pieces)

1c. broccoli florets (cut up into small pieces)

2c. mushrooms (cut up into small pieces)

1c. snow peas (cut up into small pieces)

1/2c. red bell pepper

1c. carrots - julienned

1-2Tbsp H2o

salt and pepper to taste

Garnishments:

fresh lime juice

cilantro

green onion

Sriracha

peanuts

thai peanut sauce

Optional Ingredients:

tempeh

tofu

Beyond Meat chicken 

cabbage

onion
corn

Directions:

Rinse quinoa. Place in saucepan with vegetable broth and cook according to directions listed on the quinoa packaging.

Once the quinoa is cooked, set it aside. Steam the cauliflower and broccoli (separately) for a few minutes just to lightly soften them up a bit. Get a saute pan and place about 1-2Tbsps water and heat the pan on medium high heat. Once the water starts boiling in the pan, add the cauliflower and carrots. Saute for about 2-3 minutes. Add the broccoli, mushrooms and red bell pepper to the pan and continue to saute for about 2 minutes. Add the snow peas. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add thai peanut sauce to the pan and continue to saute for just a minute or so longer. Turn off the burner and take the quinoa you cooked earlier and add it to the vegetables. Mix well. Serve immediately with the garnishments listed above. Enjoy!

Quinoa Black Bean Burrito Bowl

Quinoa Black Bean Burrito Bowl

Ingredients:

1c. Quinoa

1T. Olive Oil

1 Small Onion, minced

1 Clove Garlic, minced

2 cans spicy black beans (I like Whole Foods 365 Organic Spicy Black Beans personally)

1-2 Jalepenos, minced

1/4c. Cilantro, chopped; plus more for garnish

1/4t. Chili Powder 

Pinch Cayenne Pepper  

1/4c. Fresh Lime Juice

Tapatio, to taste (or other hot sauce of choice)

Mixed Greens, shredded (I used a mix of kale, spinach, and other super greens, in order to make it healthier than just chopped iceberg lettuce, but to each his own). 

Salt, to taste

Garnishment Options:

Tapatio hot sauce

Red, yellow and orange peppers, chopped

Tomatoes, diced

Fresh limes

Guacamole

Salsa

Sliced Avocado

Corn

Directions:

Cook Quinoa according to directions on package. Generally it is 1to 2 ratio, so 1c. quinoa to 2c. water or broth.

While Quinoa is cooking, heat 1T. olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and add the onions. Cook until the onions turn translucent and start to brown. Add garlic and jalepeno and saute for 1-2 minutes longer. Add black beans to the pot, with about 1/4-1/2c. canned liquid, as well as a 1/4c. H20, 2T. cilantro, chili and cayenne seasoning. Bring to a boil, and then turn it down to a medium low heat for about 15 minutes. Stir in about 2T. fresh lime juice. Season with salt and Tapatio to taste. I like mine spicy if you can't tell...

When the quinoa is finished cooking, fluff it with a fork and add 2T. chopped cilantro and 2T. fresh lime juice. Season with salt to taste.

Prepare your burrito bowls as you so desire. Start with a little quinoa, top with your mixed greens, and a good helping of beans. Then add whatever garnishments your little heart desires! 

Enjoy!!

Original recipe can be found at: http://theshiksa.com/2012/05/01/quinoa-black-bean-burrito-bowls/