Warm Salad Bowl (Printable)

Hearty bowl of roasted vegetables, warm grains, and wilted greens with a vibrant vinaigrette.

# What You 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
19 - Fresh herbs such as parsley or cilantro, chopped

# How To Make It:

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 and water or broth in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover. 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, garlic, salt, and pepper until just warm, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
05 - In a large bowl, toss spinach or kale with half the warm vinaigrette, allowing the greens to wilt slightly.
06 - Divide 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, which means you can actually make it on a weeknight without losing your mind.
  • The warm vinaigrette wilts the greens just enough to soften them without turning them into mush, creating this perfect textural balance.
  • You can build it according to whatever vegetables are calling to you, so it never gets boring.
02 -
  • The vinaigrette must stay warm but never hot, or the acidity cooks off and you lose that bright sharpness that makes everything sing.
  • Don't skip fluffing the grains with a fork—it aerates them and prevents that dense, gluey texture that ruins the whole bowl.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of the warm vinaigrette and keep it in a small jar; it's perfect on virtually any bowl or grain situation for the next few days.
  • Roast your vegetables on high heat and don't overcrowd the pan—those caramelized edges are what transforms this from ordinary to crave-able.
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