Start here if you’re new to grain bowls:

• Learn the basic formula
• Jump to easy recipe ideas

I know it’s going to be an excellent week when I’ve got all of my grain bowl components prepped and in the fridge for fast, easy, and healthy meals all week long.

If Grain Bowls look intimidating to you or you’re just not sure how to build one, or if you’re looking for new buddha bowl ideas, this is the article for you! My aim is to include loads of options and inspiration – I want to bowl you over with grain bowl ideas! I know, I know, that was a stretch. Carrying on …

What is a Grain Bowl?

Grain bowls aren’t actually new – they’re more like a modern name for a very classic way of eating: building a meal around a grain, then adding vegetables, protein, and sauce.

Across many food cultures, this “base + toppings” structure has existed for centuries. In Asia, it shows up in rice bowls like bibimbap. In the Mediterranean and Middle East, it appears in grain-and-legume-based meals paired with vegetables, herbs, and yogurt or tahini sauces. Worldwide, people have long combined starches, vegetables, and proteins in a single bowl.

What is on the newer is the Western “grain bowl” trend, which grew popular in the 2010s along with interest in meal prep, plant-based eating, and customizable “build-your-own” meals. The appeal is simple: grain bowls are flexible, balanced, and endlessly adaptable.

What is a Buddha Bowl?

A Buddha Bowl is essentially a grain bowl but vegetarian or vegan. It’s more veggie-forward and often served cold or room temp, which makes it even easier to prep ahead (no reheating when serving!)

But why is it called a Buddha Bowl? Apparently because a full bowl resembles the rounded “belly-like” appearance of Buddha. It could also be because it’s connected loosely to Buddhist-inspired vegetarian eating traditions.

Why You’ll Love Grain Bowls

• Perfect for meal prep – I’ll often prepare a grain, roast a vegetable, clean some greens, and make a sauce, then keep the components in the fridge. Then it’s just a matter of opening a can of beans, chopping up an avocado or another veg, and assembling the bowl.
• Solves the lunch conundrum – I don’t know if it’s just me, but lunch is the most difficult meal of the day! It’s so hard to come up with healthy vegetarian options that come together quickly (it’s the time of day when I have the smallest amount of time). So when I’ve got grain bowl ingredients prepped and ready, lunch is a breeze.
• SO easy – Once you have the components prepped, it’s super easy to assemble grain bowls for quick nutritious meals.
• Endlessly customizable – Hate kale? Swap in some arugula! Not a fan of tofu? There are plenty of other protein options available! It’s super easy to create your very own “house” grain bowl that is fine-tuned to your tastes.

How to Make A Grain Bowl

1. First, add your grain base.
2. Next, arrange the main veggie(s) to the side.
3. Add the protein.
4. Pile on the greens.
5. Add toppings and garnishes.
6. Drizzle with sauce.
7. Devour!

Easy Grain Bowl Recipe Ideas

With all of the ingredient options available to you, the combos are pretty much endless. But here are some of my favorites:

Sweet Potato & Chickpea Grain Bowl

Quinoa with roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas, shredded kale, and a delicious green goddess dressing, lots of pickled red onions, pepitas, creamy avocado, and micro-greens.

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Grain Bowl

Brown rice topped with crisp lettuce, black beans, roasted sweet potatoes, avocado, and cilantro lime dressing. Pepitas are a great addition too!

Mediterranean Grain Bowl

Rice, farro, or bulgur with roasted or fresh red bell peppers, cucumber, spinach, and chickpeas with crumbled feta and Kalamata olives. Drizzle with Greek salad dressing or Tzatziki sauce, or add a generous dollop of hummus.

Peanut Thai Veggie Grain Bowl

On a base of brown rice, add crispy pan-fried tofu, fresh spinach, steamed broccoli, and sliced bell peppers. Drizzle with peanut sauce and garnish with salted peanuts.

Veggie Sushi Grain Bowl

Seasoned rice with carrots, cucumbers, avocado, edamame, sesame seeds, and sesame-wasabi dressing. Yum!

Meal Prepping Grain Bowls

One of the best things about buddha bowls? They’re perfect for meal prep.

I pick a protein and a grain, and start with prepping those. Place them in an airtight container and place them in the fridge, then prep your veggies. Store those in the fridge, and whip up some sauce. Place that in a jar or container. Now you have a whole grain bowl meal prep kit on your refrigerator shelf for super easy lunches and dinner all week long!

I hope that having more information about how to make a grain bowl is inspiring to you! I just love that they’re so great for meal prep and are so easy to customize to match any craving I might have. Here’s to beautiful Buddha bowls in your future!

Print

Grain Bowl Formula (How to Build a Perfect Buddha Bowl)

Grain bowls (also known as Buddha Bowls) are my favorite way to make sure I'm getting a good amount of veggies and fiber in my diet. They're full of nutrients, ridiculously satisfying, perfect for prepping ahead of time, and endlessly customizable!

Course dinner, lunch

Diet Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword buddha bowl, grain bowl

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 1 bowl

Author Kare

Ingredients

1/2 cup grain base (choose one)

• rice white or brown
• farro
• quinoa not a grain but a seed that acts like a grain
• bulgur
• couscous a pasta, but behaves like a grain
• buckwheat

3/4 cup protein (choose one)

• tofu baked tofu, pan-fried tofu, or air-fryer tofu
• edamame
• chickpeas
• black beans
• white beans like navy beans or cannellini beans
• cooked lentils
• peas
• chopped hard-boiled eggs

1 cup veggies (1/2 cup roasted or fresh veg + 1/2 cup greens)

• roasted sweet potatoes
• roasted butternut squash
• roasted cauliflower
• roasted broccoli
• roasted carrots
• sliced cucumbers
• shredded raw carrots
• cherry tomatoes
• sliced bell peppers
• baby arugula
• baby spinach
• shredded kale
• shredded cabbage
• shredded romaine lettuce
• mixed spring greens

1/4 cup garnish/toppings (choose one or more)

• avocado
• pickled red onions
• fresh herbs
• cheese if dairy is ok
• micro-greens
• pumpkin seeds
• sunflower seeds
• sesame seeds
• hemp seeds
• chopped nuts
• olives

3 tablespoons sauce/dressing (choose one)

• lemon tahini sauce
• green goddess dressing
• cilantro lime sauce
• pesto
• peanut sauce
• vinaigrette

Instructions

• Place the grains in a medium-size serving bowl. Arrange the protein, veggies, greens, and garnish/toppings over the grains. Drizzle with dressing and serve.

Notes

Cooking time is basically just for assembly, not for cooking individual components. 

The post Grain Bowl Formula (How to Build a Perfect Buddha Bowl) appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love Slow Cooker Baked Ziti
• Crock Pot Baked Ziti Recipe Ingredients
• How to Make It
• Tip for Success
• More Easy Pasta Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

This December, I’m taking a break from holiday recipes to share with you what is quite possibly the easiest, simplest pasta recipe I’ve ever made! I figure this easy dinner idea is just as welcome as Christmas cookies, because dang if this time of the year isn’t super crazy! The easier the better for dinner, in my book.

This Crock Pot Baked Ziti stemmed from a super simple pasta recipe that I found in Cook’s Illustrated. They basically scaled back baked ziti to its simplest elements, adding heavy whipping cream for a rich and creamy sauce + fresh basil for loads of flavor.

I’d been wanting to create a super easy Crock Pot pasta recipe, so I thought I’d use that recipe as inspiration and create a simple, cheesy, creamy tomato-based ziti that is super simple to make and cooks up right in the slow cooker while I’m going out about my busy day.

I was so happy with how this Crock Pot Baked Ziti turned out! It cooks up quickly for a slow cooker dinner, tastes so good, and is super low-effort! A trifecta of Crock Pot goodness.

Why You’ll Love Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

• Quick to prep – I created this recipe to be nearly chopping-free so that it’s super fast to prep. The only chopping to do is giving the fresh basil a quick chiffonade.
• Family friendly – With simple ingredients, this creamy, cheesy Crock Pot pasta tends to be a hit with kids as well as grown-ups.

Crock Pot Baked Ziti Recipe Ingredients

• Pasta – I use penne or ziti pasta, but another medium tubular pasta would work too. You’ll want 12 ounces. I know it’s not a full bag/container of pasta and that’s annoying! I try really hard to use full containers of food or at least quantities that aren’t super odd. But I found that the full pound was too much and the half pound was not enough. I like to save the remaining pasta for a big pot of minestrone soup.
• Crushed canned tomatoes – You’ll need one large can (28 ounces).
• Water – Two cups to help cook the pasta.
• Sugar – This is optional, but I find that pureed tomatoes can be fairly acidic, and a teaspoon or two of sugar helps to cut down on the acidity.
• Garlic powder – I like to use garlic powder to get that garlicky taste without having to break out the cutting board and knife. If you prefer to use fresh garlic, I recommend a couple of cloves. I’ve tried it both ways and it’s great either way.
• Crushed red pepper flakes – Just 1/4 teaspoon for a teeny little touch of heat. If you’re serving any sensitive palates, feel free to leave it out.
• Salt & pepper
• Heavy cream
• Basil – Fresh basil is best, but during those times of year when basil is a little more difficult to find in grocery stores, I’ve subbed in a couple of tablespoons of freeze-dried basil and it’s worked well. In my area, the freeze-dried basil is usually in little tubs placed right with the fresh herbs in the produce section.
• Mozzarella – You’ll stir some in and you’ll top the Crock Pot Baked Ziti with the remainder.
• Parmesan cheese

How to Make It

1. First, add the pasta, tomatoes, water, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to your Crock Pot. Stir to combine.
2. Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook until the pasta is JUST tender, around d 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low.
3. Lift up the lid and stir in the cream, basil, and half of the cheeses. Stir and give it a quick taste. Feel like it needs a bit more salt and pepper? Add it now!
4. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan over the top. Replace the lid and cook for a few minutes longer until the cheese has melted.
5. Garnish with more basil if you like and serve.

Tip for Success

• Don’t overcook the pasta! I know it can be tempting to push it, but when you’re cooking pasta in the Crock Pot, it’s important not to overcook the pasta. It can get mushy fast.

I hope you love this Crock Pot Baked Ziti! I find it to be such a savior for impossibly busy weeknights.

More Easy Pasta Recipes

• The Laziest Lazy Lasagna Ever
• Butternut Squash & Spinach Pasta Pie
• Baked Boursin Pasta
• Baked Mac & Cheese Recipe

Print

Crock Pot Baked Ziti

The easiest slow cooker pasta recipe ever! Cheesy tender pasta in a tomato-cream sauce … what's not to love? Everything cooks right in the Crock Pot – even the pasta.

Keyword crock pot baked ziti, crock pot creamy tomato pasta, slow cooker baked ziti

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours 40 minutes minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 395kcal

Author Kare

Equipment

• 1 3-quart or larger slow cooker

Ingredients

• 12 ounces dry penne or ziti pasta
• 28 ounces crushed tomatoes 1 large can
• 2 cups water
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar optional*
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper + more to taste
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped; or 2 tablespoons freeze-dried basil
• 4 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded; about 1 cup; divided
• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese divided

Instructions

• Add the pasta, tomatoes, water, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine.
• Cook on high for about 2 hours or low 4 hours, until the pasta is just tender. Take care not to overcook or the pasta can get mushy.
• Stir in the heavy cream, basil, and half the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
• Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan over the top. Replace lid and cook for 20-30 more minutes, until the cheese is melted. Serve.

Notes

* Sugar seems like a weird ingredient here, I know! I find that pureed tomatoes can be fairly acidic, and the sugar helps to cut down on the acidity. You can absolutely leave it out, or give it a taste before adding the cream and see if you think it needs it. It’s good either way.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop with a splash of water or in the microwave. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 563mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 814IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Crock Pot Baked Ziti appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love Greek Mosaic Salad
• Greek Mosaic Salad Recipe Ingredients
• How to Make It
• Tips for Success

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

Have you seen mosaic salads? They’re so pretty! So far I’ve seen melon mosaic salad (or “Tetris salad”) like this, this and this, and that presentation is just *chefskiss* perfect. Love.

I knew I wanted to bring that mosaic concept to a different type of salad. I originally wanted to do something that was fall-inspired, like apple, pear, and cheddar (and that’s still swirling in my brain), but when I was eating a Greek salad at a restaurant recently, it all clicked for me. The ingredients in horiatiki-style Greek salad would be PERFECT arranged mosaic-style!

So I got to work, settling pretty quickly on cherry tomatoes nestled into squares secured by feta, cucumber, and green bell pepper squares.

Then I scattered on some Kalamata olives, red onions, fresh herbs, and a simple oregano olive oil dressing. Gah, love at first sight (and then more love at first bite!)

Why You’ll Love Greek Mosaic Salad

• Crowd-pleaser: There’s no way this mosaic Greek salad won’t impress!
• Unique spin on a classic horiatiki-style Greek salad: Horiatiki Greek Salad is made simply with veggies and a straightforward dressing; no lettuce involved. It’s the perfect style of salad for the mosaic treatment!
• Surprisingly easy: This Greek salad isn’t just easy to put together, it’s really not fussy. No need to be precious about it and get the squares exact; it’s going to look amazing no matter what!

Greek Mosaic Salad Recipe Ingredients

• Red onion – You won’t need much onion; just enough to thinly slice and arrange over the top. I like to soak the onion in ice water to help mellow it out.
• Cucumber – I use one large English cucumber for this mosaic Greek salad. You can use different types of cucumber if you prefer, just make sure it’s large enough to cut into cubes.
• Green bell pepper – One large one with flat, even sides if you can find it.
• Feta cheese – You’ll want a block of solid feta. Blot it with a paper towel to help sop up some of the moisture.
• Cherry tomatoes – Try to find some cherry tomatoes that are smaller in size, or you can cut them in half.
• Kalamata olives – Just a few, halved and scattered across the top.
• Dressing – Just olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, and kosher salt.
• Fresh oregano and/or or mint leaves – Arrange on top to make it extra pretty.
• Bonus: I don’t have these in pics or ingredients but a few capers scattered along the top will never hurt!

Tips for Success

• Cut everything into roughly the same size cubes. I go for about 3/4-inch.
• To prep ahead, cut up your feta and veggies then store them separately in an airtight container in the fridge (bell pepper and onion can flavor the other ingredients if stored together). Assemble right before serving.

I hope you love this fun spin on Greek salad! It’s one of my favorite recipes I’ve created lately. I’ve always loved a horiatiki Greek salad, and I think the mosaic presentation brings it to the next level!

Print

Greek Mosaic Salad Recipe

Sweet cherry tomatoes are nestled in between squares of cool cucumbers, crisp green bell peppers, and creamy feta cheese. Drizzle with a simple red wine viniagrette, top with red onion, Kalamata olives, and fresh herbs and dazzle your guests!

Keyword greek mosaic salad, horiatiki greek salad

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 209kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced soaked in ice water for 15 minutes
• 1 English cucumber
• 1/2 large green bell pepper
• 4 ounces feta cheese in block form; drained
• 1 cup small cherry tomatoes if large, you can cut them in half
• 10-12 kalamata olives halved
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 10-15 fresh oregano or mint leaves optional

Instructions

Soak the onions

• Thinly slice the onion and place it in bowl. Submerge it in ice water. Let it soak for 15 minutes. (This helps mellow out the flavor and makes them nice and crisp.)

Cut the veggies & feta

• Meanwhile, cut the four sides off of the cucumber to square it off, leaving some green peel on the corners for color. Cut into roughly 3/4-inch cubes.
• Cut the sides off of the green pepper, as large as possible. Square the edges then cut each piece into 3/4-inch wide squares.
• Cut the feta into approximately 3/4-inch squares.

Arrange the salad

• On a large rimmed platter, arrange the cucumber, feta, and bell peppers, leaving room for a cherry tomato here and there.
• Plop the cherry tomatoes into the blank spaces.

Top with onion and olives

• Drain the red onion slices and arrange over the top. Scatter the Kalamata olive halves over the top, too.

Add the dressing

• In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Drizzle dressing over the top of the salad.

Garnish

• Sprinkle with a pinch of coarse salt. Decorate with fresh oregano or fresh mint if desired.
• To serve, use a flat server or large serving spoon and scoop salad pieces onto a plate or into bowls.

Notes

Serves 4 as a side or 2 as a main dish.

To store leftovers, wrap the platter tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days. I’ve also simply moved the ingredients into a storage bowl for easier storing (even if the mosaic presentation is lost!)

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 559mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 583IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 173mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Greek Mosaic Salad appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

It’s a vegetarian riff on the viral TikTok bowl with cottage cheese, roasted sweet potatoes, avocado, taco-seasoned ground beef, and a generous drizzle of hot honey.

I love sweet potatoes and black beans together, so I thought black beans would make the perfect swap-in for the ground beef. And it really is excellent!

The Story Behind the Recipe

Okay, I fully admit that I wasn’t really on board with the idea of a savory cottage cheese bowl. Did I wrinkle my nose the first time I saw a viral video pop up in my feed? Yes, yes I did.

But then I kept seeing it over and over again, and I thought, can this many people be wrong about these crazy-looking bowls?

So I dove in, except, as a vegetarian, I don’t do ground beef – so I swapped in some taco-seasoned black beans. And the truth is … it is actually really delicious. Super satisfying, super tasty, unbelievably filling.

And so, here I am sharing this vegetarian cottage cheese bowl!

Why You’ll Love This Vegetarian Cottage Cheese Bowl

• Tons of protein! As written, this recipe makes two huge cottage cheese bowls or three smaller reasonable-sized bowls. If you opt for the large-and-in-charge bowl, you’re looking at 33 grams of protein. For the smaller bowl, 1/3 of the recipe, it’s 22.
• Easy to meal prep: Just make the components ahead of time and keep them in your fridge for hearty cottage cheese bowls whenever you want them.
• Now vegetarians get to try the trend! If you’re a vegetarian or just looking for something leaner that doesn’t contain beef, now you can get in on the savory cottage cheese bowl trend!

Ingredient Info

• Roasted sweet potatoes: You’ll toss about 2 1/2 cups of diced sweet potatoes in olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then roast them until caramelized and golden.
• Taco black beans: Just drain a can of black beans (but don’t rinse) and warm with a bit of taco seasoning.
• Cottage cheese: You can go with plain cottage cheese, but I find it really levels up these bowls to mix the cottage cheese with fresh lime juice, cilantro, and a bit of salt.
• Avocado
• Hot honey, crushed red pepper flakes, Tabasco sauce, and coarse sea salt to finish

Adaptations/Variations

• Squash it up: When fall rolls around, I can’t wait to swap the sweet potato for butternut squash.
• Make it vegan/dairy-free: I know they’re called cottage cheese bowls, but these bowls are also great without the cottage cheese. If you’re vegan, try a drizzle of pure maple syrup over the top (and extra crushed red pepper flakes)

How to Make Sweet Potato & Black Bean Cottage Cheese Bowls

1. First, roast the sweet potatoes.
2. Next, warm the black beans with the taco seasoning.
3. In a small bowl, mix the cottage cheese with the lime, cilantro, and salt.
4. Add cottage cheese to a large bowl and scoop in the black beans and sweet potatoes.
5. Nestle in the avocado.
6. Drizzle with hot honey.
7. Top with crushed red pepper flakes, a few dashes of Tabasco, a bit of coarse sea salt, and a touch of fresh cilantro if you’d like.

Whether you’ve seen the trend on TikTok or Instagram or not, I know this is a weird one! So I’m super curious what you think after you try it. Leave me a comment/review to tell me what you think! Have I finally lost it? Tell it to me straight; I can take it.

Print

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Cottage Cheese Bowl (a Vegetarian Version of the Viral Bowl)

Taco-seasoned black beans, roasted sweet potatoes, creamy avocado, lime-cilantro cottage cheese, and a generous drizzle of hot honey. A vegetarian version of the viral bowl! This recipe makes two large cottage cheese bowls or three smaller bowls.

Diet Gluten Free, Vegetarian

Keyword cottage cheese bowl, vegetarian cottage cheese bowl

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 2 bowls

Calories 724kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

Roasted sweet potatoes:

• 1 medium sweet potato about 3/4 pound or 2 1/2 cups; peeled and diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Taco-seasoned black beans:

• 14 ounces canned black beans drained but not rinsed; 1 can; 1 1/2 cups
• 2 teaspoons taco seasoning

Cottage cheese:

• 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro minced
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

For the bowls:

• 1 medium avocado diced
• 2 tablespoons hot honey
• crushed red pepper flakes
• 3-4 dashes Tabasco sauce optional
• salt to taste; I like a course finishing salt like Maldon sea salt flakes
• freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Roast the sweet potatoes:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Add sweet potatoes to a rimmed cookie sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the garlic powder, salt, and pepper over the top. Use a spatula or clean hands to toss the sweet potatoes until well-coated.
• Place in the oven and roast until tender and browned in spots on the outside, 20-25 minutes, stirring once while cooking.

Warm the black beans:

• Add the drained but not rinsed black beans to a skillet or saucepan. Stir in the taco seasoning. Cover and heat on low until warmed through. Remove from heat until ready to serve.

Mix up the cottage cheese:

• Add the cottage cheese to a small bowl. Add lime, cilantro, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir until combined.

Assemble the bowls:

• Divide the beans between 2 or 3 bowls (makes two large bowls or three smaller but still generous bowls). Divide the cottage cheese, sweet potatoes, and avocado between the bowls.
• Drizzle hot honey over the top of each bowl. Sprinkle with additional salt if desired (especially the avocado), then sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over the top, too. Add a few dashes of Tabasco if desired.
• Garnish with a little more chopped cilantro and serve.

Notes

As written, this recipe makes two large cottage cheese bowls or three smaller-sized bowls.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 724kcal | Carbohydrates: 88g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 2213mg | Potassium: 1677mg | Fiber: 24g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 16435IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 251mg | Iron: 5mg

More Protein-Powered Vegetarian Recipes

• Tofu Fried Rice
• Crispy Buffalo Tofu
• Black Bean, Quinoa, & Sweet Potato Chili

The post Savory Vegetarian Cottage Cheese Bowl (with Sweet Potatoes & Black Beans) appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

If you’re looking for an easy recipe for cucumber sandwiches, this is it!

Cut your cucumber sandwiches into triangles for an easy and elegant presentation, or go to town and cut them into shapes with cookie cutters. Grab your flower cookie cutter and make them super cute, Megan Markle (or is it Sussex?) style!

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love Cucumber Sandwiches
• Ingredients
• Adaptations/Variations
• How to Make Cucumber Sandwiches
• Tips for Success
• More Tea-Party-Worthy Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

I’ve been making cucumber cream cheese sandwiches for years, but it wasn’t until I whipped up a batch for a teacher appreciation event that I realized I should share the recipe here on Kitchen Treaty!

I’ve made them a few ways over the years – sometimes just a swipe of plain cream cheese on some bread, and some slices of cucumber. And sometimes, I jazz up the cream cheese with herbs to take them over the top. The herbs really do take these cucumber sandwiches to the next level, so that’s the recipe I’m sharing here today!

Cucumber sandwiches are such a simple, delicious, versatile sandwich – and it’s naturally vegetarian! Huzzah!

Why You’ll Love Cucumber Sandwiches

• Perfect for afternoon tea, baby or bridal showers, or poetry teatime (if you’re a homeschooling family, you know what I’m talking about!).
• Portable! Cucumber cream cheese sandwiches are super easy to prep, pack, and carry along.
• Kid-friendly. The simple ingredients – soft white bread, herby cream cheese, cool cucumbers – makes a sandwich kids will love.

Ingredients

• Bread – I like a soft white bread for cucumber sandwiches. They’re easy to cut the crusts off of and cut into shapes, and there’s just something so nice about the soft bread with the cream cheese and crisp cubes.
• Cucumber – I really like English cucumbers for my cucumber tea sandwiches. The peel is very thin, so it can stay on, and they’re nice, crisp, and mild tasting. You can go with any cucumber, though. Persian cucumbers are small but tasty. Traditional cucumber are great, too, but I suggest peeling off their thick skin before slicing and placing them in your sandwiches.
• Garlic and herb cream cheese – Made with cream cheese, mayo, dill, chives, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Adaptations/Variations

• Cucumber Veggie Tea Sandwiches – Add shredded carrots, creamy avocado, roasted red bell peppers, sun-dried tomatoes … whatever combo sounds good to you at the moment! This cucumber sandwich recipe is endlessly customizable.
• Vegan/Dairy-Free Cucumber Cream Cheese Sandwiches – For dairy-free sandwiches, swap the cream cheese for dairy-free cream cheese. If you want to go fully vegan, make sure to swap out the mayo, too, for an egg-free version like vegenaise.

Tips for Success

• Use room temp/softened cream cheese. It will be really hard to blend the cream cheese if it’s super cold/hard.
• Use an electric mixer to blend the garlic herb cream cheese. That makes it super quick and very smooth.

I hope these Cucumber Tea Sandwiches were exactly what you were looking for to enhance your afternoon tea time, add to the bridal shower table, or serve up on a pretty platter for Mother’s Day! They’re super easy, a classic for a reason – and just dang delicious, too.

More Tea-Party-Worthy Recipes

• Cucumber Cream Cheese Canapes
• Cucumber Slices with Smoky Sunflower Seed Pate
• Marinated Cheese & Olive Skewers
• London Fog Latte
• Slow-Roasted Tomato Bruschetta

Print

Cucumber Sandwiches Recipe

An elegant, easy sandwich that's perfect for tea time! With garlic-herb cream cheese and crisp cucumbers on soft bread – classic cucumber cream cheese sandwiches are simple, refreshing, and hit the spot.

Keyword garlic and herb cream cheese

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 16 sandwiches

Calories 123kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

For the garlic-herb cream cheese

• 4 ounces cream cheese softened a bit at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder finely minced or grated
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
• Pinch freshly ground black pepper plus more to taste

For the sandwiches

• 1 English cucumber sliced into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 batch garlic-herb cream cheese
• 8 slices soft white bread

Instructions

• Add the garlic-herb cream cheese ingredients to a medium-size bowl. Affix your hand blender with the beater attachments and beat on low speed until all of the ingredients are completely combined together and smooth.
• Lay out four slices of the bread. Divide the cream cheese between the four slices, spreading evenly across the bread.
• Lay the cucumber slices over the top, overlapping as needed.
• Place the second slice of bread on top. Using a large chef’s knife, cut off the crust then cut each sandwich into two triangles, then cut each triangle into two smaller triangles if desired.
• Garlic herb cream cheese can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Notes

Vegan option: Use a dairy-free/vegan cream cheese.

Nutrition

Serving: 3sandwiches | Calories: 123kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 40mg | Fiber: 0.01g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 398IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.1mg

The post Cucumber Sandwiches Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

The combination of textures in a creamy, full-of-flavor dressing are, in a phrase, on point.

Red grapes add a sweet, juicy bite, and toasted pecans + bits of crunchy celery add a satisfying crunch. And that creamy dressing, made with tangy Greek yogurt, mayo, lemon and dill … this creamy chickpea salad is so, SO good stuffed inside a croissant.

The Story Behind the Recipe

I’m always excited about the recipes I share with you, but this creamy chickpea salad sandwich is one that I’m extra excited about. It hits on all fronts: It’s super easy to make, perfect for making ahead, and – oh yeah – tastes amazing!

I’ve been seeing a lot of chicken salad recipes with grapes and pecans, and I felt driven to make a version with chickpeas. I am SO GLAD I DID.

Ingredients

For the chickpea salad:

• Chickpeas – I use two cans, which equates to about four cups of chickpeas.
• Pecans – Chop them pretty finely and toast them. Worth it!
• Celery – For that classic chicken salad flavor and a bit of satisfying crunch.
• Onion – Red onion is perfect. I mince it VERY finely because I love the flavor and the bit of crunch but don’t want to find a huge piece of onion in my chickpea salad sandwich.
• Grapes – Many chicken salad recipes called for halved grapes, but I go one step further and quarter them. For me, this just makes more sense for a chickpea version because chickpeas are on the smaller side and in something like this, the textures are more satisfying when the sizes can match up. Plus, you’re more likely to get a sweet juicy grape in very bite!

For the dressing:

• Greek yogurt – Full fat, plain. Sour cream will work as a sub, too, but I like the added health benefits of Greek yogurt (protein, probiotics, etc.) (source)
• Mayonnaise – Adds another note of creamy flavor. Use your favorite brand.
• Lemon juice – From one medium or large juicy lemon.
• Dill – You can use fresh minced dill, or I’ve provided an option for dried dill if that’s what you have on hand.
• Salt & pepper – This one calls for quite a bit of salt because in my opinion, the chickpeas and Greek yogurt need it. If you’re not sure or don’t like a lot of salt, go ahead and start with 1/2 teaspoon then add more at the end if you feel it needs it.

For the sandwiches:

• Croissants – HIGHLY recommend filling croissants with this creamy chickpea salad. But you can also use plain ol’ bread if you prefer.

Tips for Success

• Toast the pecans first. This will give them a chance to cool off a bit before you add them to the salad.
• Mash the chickpea salad. But only a little! This helps the chickpea salad to hold together a bit better inside your sandwiches.

I hope this Creamy Chickpea Salad Sandwich is a winner for you, too! I threw this one together, tweaking here and there where I felt it needed it, and on first taste I thought it was an immediate homerun. It’s SO awesome for making ahead and keeping in the fridge for quick and easy lunches and snacks. Winner winner chickpea dinner!

Favorite Chickpea Recipes

• Vegetarian Tuna Salad Sandwiches with Chickpeas
• Buffalo Chickpea Green Salad
• Massaged Kale Salad with Chickpeas and Avocado
• Broccoli Cheddar Chickpea Noodle Casserole
• Chickpea & Tomato Curry

Print

Creamy Chickpea Salad Sandwiches with Red Grapes & Toasted Pecans Recipe

Chickpeas, juicy grapes, crunchy pecans, and celery in a creamy lemon-dill dressing, piled into buttery croissants and devoured! This creamy Chickpea Salad Sandwich might just be the BEST (and easiest!) vegetarian sandwich!

Course lunch

Keyword chickpea chicken salad, chickpea salad, chickpea salad sandwich, creamy chickpea salad, vegetarian chicken salad

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 411kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

For the chickpea salad:

• 1/2 cup pecans chopped and toasted
• 2 15-ounce cans chickpeas drained and rinsed
• 1 cup diced celery about 2 stalks
• 1/4 cup finely diced red onion about 1/2 small onion
• 1 cup red grapes quartered

For the dressing:

• 2/3 cup Greek yogurt can substitute sour cream
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh minced dill or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried dill
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper + more to taste

For the sandwiches:

• 6 croissants

Instructions

Toast the pecans

• Lightly chop the pecans and add them to a medium skillet over medium heat. Toast, stirring occasionally until fragrant and ever so lightly golden. Remove from heat. When toasting nuts, you want to be sure to remove them from the heat before you think you need to, because they will continue toasting off heat and can burn easily.

Prep chickpea salad ingredients

• To a large bowl, add the chickpeas, celery, onion, grapes, and toasted pecans. Toss gently to mix together.

Make the dressing

• To a small bowl, add the Greek yogurt, mayo, lemon juice, dill, salt, and pepper. Whisk together until combined.

Mix the salad

• Pour the salad dressing over the salad ingredients and combine well.
• Using a potato masher, mash the salad 3-4 times just to smash a few chickpeas then remix it all together. This will help it to be more homogenous and hold together better when inside the sandwich.
• Taste the chickpea salad and add more salt and pepper if desired.

Assemble sandwiches

• Slice croissants in half horizontally and add 3/4 cup to 1 cup of chickpea salad to the bottom half of the croissant. Top with other half. Cut in half vertically and serve.

Notes

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. 

Vegan option:

The mayo and Greek yogurt make this non-vegan as-is, but a couple of simple swaps will get you there. I’d recommend vegan mayo and either store-bought or homemade vegan sour cream for the Greek yogurt.

Gluten-free option: 

Use a gluten-free croissant or a couple of slices of your favorite GF bread. Or just serve this up on a bed of lettuce and bypass the bread altogether.

Meat option:

If you’re making sandwiches for meat-eaters and vegetarians eating together, I’d divide the pecans, grapes, celery, and onion between two medium-size bowls. Add half the chickpeas to one and about a cup of cooked, chopped chicken to the other. Divide the dressing between the bowls and mix together. Voila! Chicken salad and chickpea “chicken” salad!

 

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1sandwich | Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 708mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 536IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 2mg

The post Creamy Chickpea Salad Sandwich with Red Grapes & Pecans Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

We’ve got broccoli, zucchini, red bell peppers, snap peas, and spinach along with Thai green curry paste, coconut milk, and a generous squeeze of lime. You can enjoy this one as-is, or add your protein of choice. I’ll often add tofu or chickpeas to my protein and shredded cooked chicken to the resident carnivore’s bowl.

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love These Thai Green Curry Vegetables
• Ingredients
• Adaptation Idea
• How to Make Thai Green Curry
• Tip for Success
• More Curry Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

This is another recipe I’ve had in the hopper for years! Every summer, we head up to the Southern Gulf Islands in British Columbia, and nearly every restaurant has a Thai green curry dish, each one better than the last.

My favorite is loaded up with veggies along with wedges of grilled tofu, then topped with chopped almonds and shredded carrots. It’s incredible!

So a few years ago, I decided to work on recreating the dish at home. It seemed like the perfect One Dish Two Ways recipe – a “fork in the road” recipe where it starts out vegan or vegetarian, then you divide it in half and add meat to one half for the carnivores.

I’ve made this one many times with chicken for my guy and leaving it vegetarian for me. It’s super flexible that way!

I decided that for publishing this Thai green curry recipe, I’d leave it to veggies only, then you can give it the “pick your protein” treatment if you like. Add tofu, chickpeas, white beans, seitan, or chicken – or just enjoy the veggies just as they are! No matter how you serve it up, it’s SO tasty.

Why You’ll Love These Thai Green Curry Vegetables

• SO full of flavor. Garlic, ginger, Thai green curry paste, coconut milk … it’s just the best combo.
• Super flexible. Subtract or add veggies and make it yours. Add a protein if you like. Serve it over cauliflower rice for a lower-carb version or quinoa for a bit more protein.
• Easy! SO easy!
• Simple to prep ahead. Chop up the veggies, garlic and ginger beforehand, then keep the veggies in one container and the garlic and ginger in another in the fridge for up to 2 days. Perfect for when you want a healthy weeknight dinner but are short on time.

Ingredients

• Oil – Any neutral cooking oil like vegetable oil or avocado oil will work well.
• Thai green curry paste – I prefer Thai Kitchen Brand, but use whichever one you like. Note that Thai Kitchen green curry paste is pretty mild, so you might grab another if you want a spicier Thai green curry. I also add crushed red pepper flakes as garnish to add a bit of heat.
• Salt, garlic, & ginger – Helps enhance/add to the flavors of the Thai green curry paste.
• Veggies – Broccoli, zucchini, red bell pepper, sugar snap peas, and baby spinach
• Coconut milk – I like to use full-fat canned coconut milk for the richest curry.
• Brown sugar – Just that touch of sweetness really helps to round out the flavor.
• Cornstarch – This is to help thicken the sauce to give it a more velvety texture. You can totally leave it out if you prefer!
• Lime – Lime zest lends flavor (traditionally you might find kaffir lime leaves in Thai green curry, but that’s an ingredient that’s really hard for me to find in my area, so I use lime zest + serve lime wedges to squeeze over the top of the curry.
• Thai basil – Fresh Thai basil can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores.
• For serving – Rice, chopped almonds, more Thai basil, lime wedges, crushed red pepper flakes, shredded carrots

Adaptation Idea

• Add chickpeas, white beans, edamame, tofu, or chicken for some additional protein.

How to Make Thai Green Curry

You’re gonna LOVE how easy it is to make vegetable Thai green curry!

You’ll want to chop your veggies in advance, because once you start cooking, the process goes pretty quickly. And make sure you have some rice ready to go.

First, saute the green curry paste, garlic, and ginger in the oil for just a bit to help liven up the flavors. Next, add water and all of the veggies except for the spinach.

Cover and let that simmer until the veggies are tender, then stir in the coconut milk. Stir the cornstarch with a little water and pour that in too.

Simmer gently until thickened, then stir in the lime zest, spinach, and Thai basil.

Taste and add more salt if desired. That’s it!

Serve over rice and garnish how you like.

Tip for Success

• Once you’ve added the coconut milk, do not boil the mixture. This can cause the coconut milk to split or curdle. If that does happen, it will still taste okay, don’t worry! It just doesn’t look as appetizing or have quite the lovely silky texture.

I hope you love this Thai green curry vegetables recipe as much as we do! It’s such a delicious way to enjoy veggies, and super flexible too. I love this as a one-dish-two-ways recipe – it’s so easy to just add your protein of choice!

More Curry Recipes

• Chickpea & Tomato Curry
• Chana Masala
• Slow Cooker Red Lentil & Chickpea Pumpkin Curry
• Slow Cooker Red Lentil & Chickpea Curry with Potatoes & Peas
• Thai Green Curry Soup
• Thai Red Curry

Print

Thai Green Curry Vegetables Recipe

I love this full-of-flavor curry dish as-is, or give it the "pick your protein" treatment. I'll often dish this up with chickpeas or diced tofu stirred into my portion and shredded chicken stirred into the carnivore's bowl.

Keyword thai green curry, thai green curry vegetables

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 176kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

For the Thai Green Curry:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or another neutral cooking oil
• 3 tablespoons Thai green curry paste I like Thai Kitchen brand
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste
• 1 medium clove garlic minced
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger about a pinky-sized piece, peeled
• 3/4 cup water can substitute low-sodium veg broth for a bit more flavor
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 medium zucchini cut into half-moons
• 1 red bell pepper cut into strips
• 1/2 cup sugar snap peas or snow peas
• 1 cup coconut milk from the can
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water
• 3 cups baby spinach
• 2 teaspoons lime zest from one medium lime
• 10 leaves Thai basil roughly chopped

Serve with:

• cooked brown rice or quinoa
• Thai basil leaves
• lime wedges for squeezing over the top
• chopped almonds
• crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

• Set a large saute pan over medium-low heat and add the oil. When hot, add the green curry paste, 1/4 teaspoon salt, garlic and ginger. Stir frequently for a minute, then stir in the 3/4 cup water and add the broccoli, zucchini, red bell pepper, and sugar snap peas (or snow peas). Cover and simmer until the veggies are bright and just becoming tender, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the coconut milk and brown sugar. In a small bowl, stir the cornstarch with 1 tablespoons cold water and add that to the pan. Increase heat to medium high and bring just to a light boil then immediately turn the heat to low, simmering until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Be sure you don't cook this at a high/rolling boil, or the coconut milk might break/curdle.
• Stir in the spinach, lime zest, and fresh Thai basil until and stir until wilted, about a minute. Remove from heat. Taste and add more salt until it's perfect for you (I usually add about 1/4 teaspoon more).
• To serve, spoon over cooked quinoa or rice and garnish with more Thai basil, chopped almonds, crushed red pepper if you want some heat, and lime wedges for squeezing over the top.

Notes

Servings: 3 large or 4 medium servings

Nutrition info does not include rice

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 176kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 194mg | Potassium: 622mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5394IU | Vitamin C: 103mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 4mg

The post Thai Green Curry Vegetables Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

With protein-rich chickpeas, tender sweet potatoes, and spinach in a savory peanut and tomato sauce, this West African inspired stew makes an amazing dinner (and the leftovers are excellent for lunch!) I love it served over brown rice, with lots of peanuts and cilantro sprinkled over the top.

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Peanut, Sweet Potato, & Chickpea Stew
• Ingredients
• Adaptations/Variations
• How to Make This Slow Cooker Chickpea Stew
• Tips for Success
• More Chickpea Stew Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

I already have a stovetop West-African-inspired peanut stew recipe on Kitchen Treaty, but I wanted to create a super hands-off version, plus, I thought I’d amp up the protein with some chickpeas.

I reduced the liquids (you don’t need nearly as much liquid when cooking in a slow cooker) and made a few tweaks to the inspiration recipe, and this Slow Cooker Peanut, Chickpea, and Sweet Potato Stew was born!

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Peanut, Sweet Potato, & Chickpea Stew

What’s not to love when it comes to slow cooker dinners?! This is a throw it in and forget it until dinnertime kind of meal, one that allows all the flavors to mingle together into a flavorful stew.

All you have to do after it cooks all day is stir in some spinach, cook up some rice, chop up some peanuts and cilantro, and serve!

Ingredients

• Onion, garlic, and fresh ginger – for a backbone of flavor.
• Sweet potatoes – peeled and diced, any color will do.
• Chickpeas – You’ll want two cans, or about 3 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas.
• Crushed tomatoes – One can.
• Veggie broth – I like to use low-sodium vegetable broth to better control the overall salt levels in my recipes. Buy it from the store or try my slow-cooker veggie broth recipe.
• Peanut butter – I like to use creamy peanut butter for a nice smooth sauce.
• Cumin, coriander, & red cayenne pepper – For flavor and, in the case of the cayenne, a smidge of heat.
• Spinach – I use baby spinach because it’s easy to buy it packaged and pre-washed, so I don’t need to worry about rinsing and chopping spinach leaves.
• Salt & pepper – To taste.

Adaptations/Variations

• Swap the spinach for kale. Use baby kale or another type of kale leaves, stems removed and chopped.
• Add more veggies. Red bell pepper and/or carrots are great additions.
• If you don’t have vegetable broth, water will work. I like the added flavor that veggie broth provides but it’s not a must!

How to Make This Slow Cooker Chickpea Stew

Add all of the ingredients except the spinach, the rice, and the toppings to the slow cooker …

… and cook for a few hours.

Stir in the spinach …

Then cook up some rice, spoon your chickpea stew over the rice, top with chopped peanuts and cilantro, and enjoy!

Tips for Success

• Use a 3-quart or larger slow cooker. Any smaller and the ingredients might not fit.
• Go generous with the peanuts on top. The added crunch is so good!

I hope you love this Slow Cooker Peanut, Sweet Potato, & Chickpea Stew as much as we do! It’s such an easy way to get a hearty, unique, protein-packed, and cozy dish on the table, especially on busy weeknights.

More Chickpea Stew Recipes

• Chickpea & Tomato Curry
• Chana Masala with Spaghetti Squash
• Moroccan Chickpea & Sweet Potato Stew
• Slow Cooker Red Lentil & Chickpea Curry with Potatoes & Peas
• Slow Cooker Pumpkin Red Lentil & Chickpea Curry
• 20-Minute Vegetarian White Bean Chili

Print

Slow Cooker Peanut, Sweet Potato, & Chickpea Stew Recipe

This hearty chickpea stew is a vegan riff on West African peanut stew and cooks up effortlessly in the Crock Pot. A savory peanut-tomato sauce coats tender chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and spinach. Serve over rice and top generously with chopped salted peanuts and cilantro!

Keyword harissa chickpea stew, peanut stew, slow cooker chickpea stew, slow cooker west african stew, west african stew

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 281kcal

Author Kare

Equipment

• 1 3-quart or larger slow cooker

Ingredients

• 1 medium yellow onion diced) (about 2 cups
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger chopped
• 1 large sweet potato peeled and diced) (about 2 cups
• 2 cans chickpeas drained and rinsed; 15-ounce cans; 3 1/2 cups
• 15 ounces crushed tomatoes 1 can
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red cayenne pepper plus or minus to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper + more to taste
• 4 cups packed fresh baby spinach

For serving:

• 2 cups cooked brown rice

Garnish:

• Fresh cilantro
• Chopped salted peanuts

Instructions

• To a 3-quart or larger slow cooker, add all ingredients except the spinach. The peanut butter might not incorporate all the way at first, but once it warms it will melt and mix with the other ingredients.
• Cook on high 3-4 hours or low 6-8 hours. Stir in the spinach until wilted. Serve over rice with fresh cilantro and a generous topper of chopped salted peanuts.

Notes

Meat option

Classic West African Peanut Stew often contains chicken. If you like, you could stir some cooked/shredded chicken into the meat-eaters’ bowls. 

Nutrition

Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 419mg | Potassium: 676mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 7416IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Slow Cooker Peanut, Sweet Potato, & Chickpea Stew Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

This recipe for Coconut Curried Green Lentils is one of those recipes that’s so convenient to have in your back pocket. Whether you haven’t been to the grocery store lately or are just looking for something easy to put together, chances are, you’ll have all the ingredients you need in your pantry for these coconut curried lentils.

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Ingredients
• Adaptations/Variations
• How to Make Coconut Curried Green Lentils
• Tips for Success
• Can I Freeze Coconut Curried Lentils?
• More Curry Recipes

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

This coconut curried lentils recipe has been a favorite for years! I first stumbled upon a version of the recipe in the cookbook Small Victories by Julia Turshen (buy it here on Amazon [affiliate link]). Lentils simmer in sautéed onion, coconut milk, water, and spices – and I’ll be honest, the recipe is so simple that the first time I tried this recipe, I expected to be underwhelmed – or at least just whelmed. But I took one bite and was floored at the deliciousness!

Turshen’s recipe calls for split red lentils, which makes for a faster recipe, but the lentils don’t keep their shape. Other versions call for half split red lentils and half French green lentils, which is a combo I’ve made many times and is the best of both worlds.

For the version I’m sharing today, and the version I make most frequently, it’s all French green lentils. I also tend to use veggie broth instead of water for another layer of flavor, but it’s not strictly necessary.

Ingredients

• French green lentils – There are many types of lentils, but French green lentils are one of my faves! They’re smaller than standard green lentils, and hold their shape for excellent texture in dishes like this Coconut Curried Green Lentils recipe. You can use another type of lentil, too, but cooking time may vary.
• Olive oil – For sautéing the onion and spices.
• Onion – asdf
• Spices – Ground cumin, ground turmeric, ground coriander, and cayenne pepper (optional, but nice for an added touch of heat)
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Coconut milk – I like the richness of full-fat coconut milk for these curried lentils, but lite coconut milk will work, too.
• Vegetable broth – I like the extra flavor that veggie broth brings to the table, but water will work, too.
• Salt – I like to use kosher salt in my cooking. This recipe calls for a teaspoon, but you can add more or less to taste.

Adaptations/Variations

• Coconut Curried Red Lentils: Sub in split red lentils. You’ll want to reduce the cooking time, and keep in mind that they will not hold their shape so the result will be more homogenous and cream, but the taste will still be amazing!
• Swap in brown lentils or another lentil; the recipe will work, but the cooking time may change. Keep a close eye on it and add more liquid if needed.

How to Make Coconut Curried Green Lentils

These coconut curried lentils are so easy to make! Just set a large pan or pot over medium-low heat and sauté the onion, spices, garlic, and ginger.

Then add the lentils, coconut milk, broth, and salt.

At this point, you’ll simmer it for quite awhile until the lentils are tender. The curried lentils will thicken while cooking into this glorious pot of lentil goodness!

Serve with rice, a dollop of plain yogurt, cilantro, and naan for tastiest results.

Tips for Success

• Don’t boil it! Coconut milk can be fussy and will “break” if it’s cooked at too high of heat for too long. Just a low, steady simmer is perfect.
• Watch your lentils closely and add more liquid if needed. Sometimes the liquid will cook off too fast and the lentils need more time – and liquid – to cook perfectly.
• Peel your ginger with a spoon – I have to throw this tip in there because it’s borderline life-changing! Use the edge of a spoon to get the peel off of fresh ginger. I find I waste way less of the ginger peeling it this way than when I use a knife.

Can I Freeze Coconut Curried Lentils?

Yes, the leftovers freeze really well. Just place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and warm gently over the stove.

More Curry Recipes

• Crock Pot Curried Pumpkin Chickpeas & Lentils
• Crock Pot Curried Chickpeas & Lentils with Potatoes & Peas
• Zucchini & Corn Curry
• Tomato & Chickpea Curry

Print

Coconut Curried Green Lentils Recipe

An easy one-pot pantry recipe! You probably have all the ingredients on hand to make these creamy, savory, perfectly spiced lentils. Best served with creamy plain yogurt and naan for delicious scooping!

Keyword coconut curried green lentils, coconut curried lentils, curried lentils

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 6

Calories 320kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 medium yellow onion diced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup French green lentils rinsed
• 13.5 ounces coconut milk 1 can
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste

Instructions

• Set a large saute pan or pot over medium-low heat. Add the olive oil. When warm, add the onion, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and cayenne pepper. Sauté the onion and spices, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft, 5-6 minutes.
• Add the garlic and ginger and sauté for one more minute.
• Add the lentils, coconut milk, broth, and salt and stir to combine.
• Increase heat to medium and, once the mix is simmering, lower the heat to continue simmering, uncovered. There will be a lot of liquid at first, but the lentils will soak up some and some will cook off.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, about 40 minutes. If the mixture begins to dry out before the lentils are cooked through, add another splash of vegetable broth or some water. By the end, the curried lentils should be thickened but still loose, like the consistency of risotto. Taste and add more salt if desired.
• Serve with rice – I recommend white basmati rice, brown basmati rice or cauliflower rice. Naan, a dollop of plain yogurt and some fresh cilantro leaves are excellent, too.

Notes

Nutrition info does not include toppings

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 713mg | Potassium: 180mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 189IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 5mg

The post Coconut Curried Green Lentils Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.

We’ve got chickpeas, broccoli, and pasta in a creamy, cheesy sauce, topped with cheddar and baked until melty and bubbling. Vegetarians don’t have to miss out on the casserole comfort when we have this cheesy, creamy chickpeas with pasta recipe!

Table of Contents

• The Story Behind the Recipe
• Why You’ll Love This Chickpeas with Pasta Recipe
• Ingredients
• Adaptations/Variations
• How to Make Broccoli Cheddar Chickpea Noodle Casserole
• Tips for Success
• More Chickpea Comfort Food Recipes
• Get Good Recipe Karma

• Jump to the Full, Printable Recipe
• Read Comments & Reviews

The Story Behind the Recipe

Fall is just about here, and with it, I’m craving all the comfort food. I’m also craving easy dinner recipes that have the bonus of easy leftovers for lunches or another dinner later on in the week. I’m also craving pasta and creamy broccoli cheddar.

Basically, this Broccoli Cheddar Chickpea Noodle Casserole is the result of all of my cravings.

I wanted to riff on tuna noodle casserole, but make it vegetarian, hence the chickpeas … but then I was really liking the idea of adding a cheesy component, and broccoli seemed like a natural addition.

I wrote down a recipe I thought would work and gave it a try, fully expecting to have to tweak it before the recipe hit prime time. It was perfect the first time. I LOVE it when that happens!

Why You’ll Love This Chickpeas with Pasta Recipe

It’s easy to make with homemade, wholesome ingredients. It starts with onion and garlic and some seasonings, then we add flour to make a roux. From there, we add veggie broth, milk, and cheese, creating a full-of-flavor, luxuriously creamy sauce. Stir in the pasta and broccoli and pour it into a casserole dish. Top with cheese, bake until bubbly, dig in!

All you need is a simple salad with a light vinaigrette alongside, or even just a hunk of bread, considering your casserole has some veggies already!

Ingredients

• Pasta – I love using curly pasta (rotini shape) in my chickpea pasta casserole. For an added boost of protein and in keeping with the theme, I like to opt for chickpea pasta, but plain ol’ pasta will do.
• Broccoli – You’ll want it blanched so that it’s cooked just right when you serve your casserole. It’s a pain to cook it separately, so I like to throw the broccoli in with the pasta in the last couple of minutes of cooking. Easy peasy way to accomplish blanched broccoli!
• Butter – I like to use unsalted in order to better control the overall salt levels. You can use half and half olive oil and butter instead, if you want to add a dose of healthy fats.
• Flour – To thicken the sauce for a luxuriously creamy result.
• Thyme, dried mustard, and smoked paprika – These herbs/seasonings add some nice flavor notes and highlight the cheesy flavor.
• Onion & garlic – For a nice backbone of flavor.
• Veggie broth – Grab some low-sodium vegetable broth at the store, or save your scraps and make vegetable broth in your Crock Pot!
• Milk – You can use dairy milk or your favorite unsweetened plant-based milk. I like to use full-fat oat milk in this one just because it’s super creamy and it’s what I usually have on hand.
• Chickpeas – One can (about 1 1/2 cups), drained and rinsed.
• Cheddar cheese – I like to use sharp cheddar for a nice cheesy boost of flavor.
• Salt & pepper

Adaptations/Variations

• Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Chickpea Noodle Casserole: Substitute vegan butter, vegan milk, and vegan cheddar, or you can even leave out the cheese entirely. It will still have excellent flavor!
• Vegan Chickpea Noodle Casserole: Leave out the cheese and top with breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs. You can even sauté some celery and red bell pepper and/or add some cauliflower florets with the broccoli to increase the veggie factor.
• Gluten-Free Chickpea Noodle Casserole: Use chickpea pasta or swap in brown rice pasta or another gluten-free pasta.

How to Make Broccoli Cheddar Chickpea Noodle Casserole

First, you’ll want to cook the pasta, but only to al dente (it will cook the rest of the way in the oven). In the last couple of minutes of cooking the pasta, toss in the broccoli so it’ll blanch. Drain the pasta and broccoli in a colander and set aside.

Next, you’ll make the creamy sauce. Just sauté the onion, add the flour and seasonings and cook, stirring frequently, then add the garlic.

Slowly pour in the broth and milk, stirring frequently, until thick and rich.

Now, you’ll toss in the cooked pasta and broccoli as well as the chickpeas and some of the cheddar. Taste and add more salt and pepper if you like.

Scoop the mix evenly into the baking dish and top with the rest of the cheese.

Bake until bubbly comfort food casserole perfection and devour!

Tips for Success

• Cook the pasta JUST until al dente. Otherwise, the end result might have mushy, overcooked pasta.
• Cook the flour for the full three minutes. This is important to prevent any raw flour taste.

More Chickpea Comfort Food Recipes

• BBQ Chickpea Sloppy Joes
• Slow Cooker Pumpkin, Chickpea, & Red Lentil Curry
• Vegetarian Chicken Noodle Soup (with chickpeas)
• Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup
• Chickpea & Rice Soup
• Chickpea Tomato Curry
• Vegetarian Wellington
• Vegetarian White Bean Chili

Get Good Recipe Karma

If you love this recipe (or even if you don’t!) please, please, please come back and leave a rating! It’s so helpful for me to make sure this chickpea casserole recipe is just right – and it’s super beneficial for other readers, too.

Print

Broccoli Cheddar Chickpea Noodle Casserole Recipe

Creamy, cheesy, full-of-flavor and super satisfying! This cozy chickpea casserole hits all the right notes and makes the perfect comfort-food meal.

Keyword broccoli cheddar chickpea noodle casserole, chickpea casserole, chickpea pasta, chickpeas with pasta recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 493kcal

Author Kare

Ingredients

• 8 ounces rotini pasta I like to use chickpea rotini pasta to increase the protein
• 4 cups broccoli florets 1/2-inch to 1-inch in size
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 medium yellow onion diced
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 2 medium cloves garlic minced
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup milk I use full-fat unsweetened oat milk but 2% or whole milk work too
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt + more to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper + more to taste
• 15 ounces chickpeas 1 can, drained and rinsed
• 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese about 6 ounces; shredded; divided

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F and have an 8"x8" baking dish ready.
• Cook the pasta JUST TO AL DENTE, according to package directions. When the pasta has about 2 minutes left to cook, add the broccoli to the still-cooking pasta. Drain the pasta and broccoli and set it aside.
• Set a large pot or skillet over medium heat. Melt the butter in the pot, then add the onions. Saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the flour, thyme, dry mustard, and smoked paprika and cook, stirring continuously for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
• Slowly pour in the vegetable broth, whisking continuously. Add the milk. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.
• Stir in the cooked pasta and broccoli, the drained can of chickpeas, and 2 cups of the cheese. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
• Pour the mixture into your baking dish and top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar, spreading it evenly over the top.
• Bake until bubbly and the cheese is melted, 20-25 minutes. Serve.

Notes

Storage/reheating notes:

Cover tightly or transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm leftovers in the microwave or gently over the stovetop (you can add a splash of water or broth if needed).

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 493kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 865mg | Potassium: 412mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1193IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 414mg | Iron: 5mg

The post Broccoli Cheddar Chickpea Noodle Casserole Recipe appeared first on Kitchen Treaty.