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Pesto quinoa bowl with broccoli and sweet potato, a colorful and healthy dish.

Pesto Quinoa Bowl with Broccoli and Sweet Potato

A nourishing and hearty quinoa bowl featuring roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, and a homemade vegan pesto for a delightful meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Vegan
Calories: 550

Ingredients
  

Quinoa Base
  • 1/3 cup dry quinoa Can substitute with 1 cup of cooked quinoa
  • 2/3 cup water For cooking quinoa
Vegetables
  • 1 med-large sweet potato Chopped into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 crown broccoli Chopped into florets
  • 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil For tossing veggies
  • 2 cups baby spinach Base for the grain bowl
Additional Ingredients
  • 2 large eggs Hard-boiled for topping
  • 1/4 cup raw pecans For crunch and flavor
Vegan Pesto
  • 2 cups fresh basil Main herb for pesto
  • 2 cloves garlic For flavor in the pesto
  • 1/4 cup hemp seeds Nutritious addition to pesto
  • 1/3 cup nutritional yeast Gives a cheesy flavor to the pesto
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil To blend into pesto
  • Salt + pepper To taste for seasoning

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet for the veggies.
  2. Rinse the dry quinoa in a sieve, then add the rinsed quinoa and water to a saucepan with a lid. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 15 minutes, or until all water has been absorbed.
  3. While the quinoa cooks, chop the broccoli into florets and the sweet potatoes into small 1-inch cubes.
Cooking
  1. Toss the chopped vegetables in olive oil, salt, and pepper, then spread them on the lined baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, until tender and slightly browned.
  2. Meanwhile, hard-boil the eggs by placing them in a saucepan and covering with water. Bring the water to a boil, then cover and remove from heat. Set your timer for 12 minutes, then drain and place in cold water to stop the cooking process.
Making the Pesto
  1. Add all pesto ingredients to a food processor and blend until well-combined.
Assembly
  1. Assemble the grain bowls by dividing the ingredients evenly. Start with a base of baby spinach, add quinoa, roasted veggies, the hard-boiled egg, pecans, and top with pesto.
  2. Mix everything together to distribute the pesto, adding additional salt and pepper if desired.

Notes

This bowl is delicious warm or at room temperature. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. It can be paired with proteins like grilled chicken or chickpeas for added nourishment.