Black-Eyed Pea Buddha Bowl (Printable)

A wholesome plant-based bowl featuring protein-packed black-eyed peas, roasted vegetables, fluffy quinoa, and velvety tahini dressing for complete nourishment.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grain Base

01 - 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

04 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
06 - 1 small red onion, sliced
07 - 1 small zucchini, sliced
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Black-Eyed Peas

11 - 2 cups cooked black-eyed peas
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Fresh Components

14 - 2 cups baby spinach or kale
15 - 1 avocado, sliced
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped

→ Tahini Dressing

17 - 1/4 cup tahini
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
19 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
20 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
21 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
22 - Salt to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F.
02 - Toss sweet potato, bell pepper, red onion, and zucchini with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and golden brown.
03 - Rinse quinoa under cold water. Combine quinoa, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
04 - In a small skillet over medium heat, warm black-eyed peas with cumin and garlic powder for 3-4 minutes until heated through.
05 - In a bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, water, minced garlic, and salt until smooth. Add more water as needed for desired consistency.
06 - Divide cooked quinoa between four bowls. Top each with roasted vegetables, seasoned black-eyed peas, and fresh spinach or kale.
07 - Drizzle tahini dressing over each bowl. Garnish with avocado slices and chopped herbs. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen when it actually took less than an hour from start to finish.
  • The tahini dressing is so creamy and lemon-bright that it makes you rethink what plant-based eating can be.
  • You can prep the components ahead and assemble when hunger calls, making weeknight dinners feel less rushed.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing your quinoa—it removes a natural coating that can make it taste slightly soapy and bitter.
  • The tahini dressing will thicken as it sits, so add the water gradually and don't be afraid to thin it with a little extra when you plate; it should flow across the bowl, not sit in a clump.
03 -
  • Prep your vegetables the night before and store them in containers; roasting them takes just 25 minutes, and you'll have a ready meal with minimal morning effort.
  • The tahini dressing tastes even better the next day as flavors meld, so make extra and use it on grain bowls, roasted vegetables, or as a drizzle over toast all week long.
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