These healthy meals-in-a-bowl may just become your new favorite recipe. They are absolutely delicious as you mix everything up together and dig in. Yum.
Customize the fillings to your preferences: For Paleo followers you can leave out the grain base and add in some roasted sweet potatoes or fried-rice style cauliflower. For vegans you can cook the grains down in broth mixed with our healthy cooking sauce, and/or instead of substitute the chicken for tofu or tempeh sauteed with our healthy cooking sauce for a flavor-packed meal!
These bowls are great for make-ahead meal prep too. Make several at once and you’re stocked up for delicious and healthy lunches on the go that will energize and satisfy all week long!
I make variations of these bowls for my professional athlete clients all of the time because they absolutely love them and help them achieve their health goals in a delicious way. I love that all I have to do to add a ton of flavor and nutrition is simply pour on our Mesa de Vida healthy cooking sauce!
Smoky Southwestern Bowls
Serves 4-6
For the base:
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 cup frozen fire roasted corn kernels
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
(Tip – When you’re cooking your quinoa add your corn and black beans to the pot during the last 10 minutes of cooking time)
1/2 cup roasted red peppers, diced
Toss together and place into the bottom of the bowl.
Add a portion to each bowl:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs simmered in Mesa de Vida Smoky Latin inspired healthy cooking sauce (or substitute ground beef or leftover shredded beef or pork simmered/braised/slow cooked in Mesa de Vida healthy cooking sauce if you wish)
Top with toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and the Avocado-Cilantro Crema. Mix everything together before serving and enjoy!
Avocado-Cilantro Crema
Makes about 2 cups
I use this as a salad dressing, spread for sandwiches, to dollop on cooked fish and so much more! It’s absolutely delicious and keeps in the refrigerator for about 2 days.
1 large ripe avocado
1-2 cloves garlic
1 pinch salt
1/2 – 1 whole jalapeno, optional
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
1 tsp honey
The juice from one juicy lime
1 tsp rice vinegar
1-2 Tb water
Put everything in the blender, puree until smooth. Add water as necessary to get to the consistency that you like.
