A hearty bowl of caramelized root vegetables, herbs, grains, and crisp greens for a balanced meal.
# Ingredient List:
→ Root Vegetables
01 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
02 - 2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
03 - 1 small sweet potato, peeled and cubed
04 - 1 small red onion, cut into wedges
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
06 - 1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
07 - 1 teaspoon fresh chopped tarragon or ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon
08 - ½ teaspoon sea salt
09 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Grains
10 - 1 cup quinoa (alternatively brown rice or millet)
11 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water
→ Light Greens
12 - 2 cups baby spinach or mixed greens
13 - 1 cup arugula
14 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
15 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
16 - Pinch of salt and pepper
→ Garnish
17 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds (optional)
18 - Additional fresh thyme and tarragon for serving
# Directions:
01 - Heat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, combine carrots, parsnips, sweet potato, and red onion with olive oil, thyme, tarragon, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange the vegetables in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and tender.
04 - Rinse quinoa thoroughly. In a medium saucepan, combine quinoa with vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
05 - In a medium bowl, gently toss baby spinach, arugula, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper until slightly wilted.
06 - Divide quinoa evenly among four bowls. Top with roasted vegetables and a handful of dressed greens.
07 - Sprinkle with toasted seeds and additional fresh herbs if desired. Serve warm.
