5-LAYER WARMEST WINTER BOWL with roasted roots, garbanzo beans, and basmati rice

This is my go-to, anti-chill winter meal. The recipe may look daunting based on it's length but I assure you it only requires simple chopping and a few seasonal ingredients. I make this regularly throughout the winter months, switching from rice to quinoa to cooked buckwheat and using white beans in place of garbanzo, basically adapting the recipe to meet my taste of the day. It's a great meal to make in large batches. Freeze the three base layers together in individual serving containers for an easy-to-grab lunch option. It's an inexpensive, meatless and warms the body from the inside, providing a sustainable heat.

 

[THE RECIPE]

For the Roots:

1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into small chunks*

3 beets, any variety, peeled and cut into small chunks*

3 - 4 carrots, peeled and cut into small chunks*

2 parsnips, peeled and cut into small chunks*

1 medium onion, any variety, finely chopped

3 - 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

2 - 3 tablespoons of ghee or coconut oil, melted

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

fresh or dried rosemary, sage, and thyme

*If you purchase organic produce, you can skip peeling. Scrub with a veggie brush and chop. 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spread out all of the prepared vegetables on a large rimmed baking sheet [optional use of parchment paper]. Sprinkle with 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of sea salt, a few grinds of pepper, and herbs [about 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of each dried herb or 1 tablespoon of each fresh herb]. Drizzle with melted ghee or oil and toss using your hands so that all of the vegetables are covered with both herbs and ghee or oil. 

Place veggies in warmed oven and bake at 375 degrees for 35 - 45 minutes or so. Remove when veggies are just beginning to brown along the edges and are soft but not mushy. Turn off oven but leave veggies inside until remaining dishes are prepared.

For the Rice:

While veggies are baking, make basmati rice according to package instructions. Quinoa or buckwheat are great substitutes.

For the Garbanzo Beans:

1 large can of cooked Eden garbanzo beans or make 2 cups dried beans, drained and rinsed

2 - 3 tablespoons of ghee or coconut oil

sea salt and freshly ground pepper

optional additional spices: turmeric, cumin, coriander, sweet paprika, smoked paprika

In a medium size skillet, warm ghee or oil over medium-high heat. When ghee or oil is hot but not smoking, carefully add beans. [Oil may splatter!]

Shake skillet carefully to toss beans. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper and shake skillet again. Let beans cook for 7 - 10 minutes, shaking frequently to prevent burning, or until beans turn a golden brown color and look a bit crispy on the outside. Remove from heat and set aside. 

Garnish:

avocado, pit removed and sliced

toasted pumpkin seeds

parsley, fresh thyme or herb of choice

To Create 5-Layer Bowl:

Place a scoop of rice in bottom of medium, single-serving bowl. Top with a layer of roasted vegetables followed by beans and finally any garnishes desired [the photo for this post shows avocado and pumpkin seeds]. Serve warm.