Crunchy Quinoa Power Bowl with Almond Ginger Dressing
A light and satisfying quinoa bowl made with crunchy red and green cabbage that’s tossed in an almond butter dressing made with ginger, garlic and lime.
Hey guys! I hope your first weekend of 2015 was an awesome one.
I’m pretty excited for this week because it means finally getting back into a regular routine. I’ve put my fitness on the back burner for the past several months so, like the majority of the population right now, I’ve made a commitment to myself to change that starting with the new year.
For me this means making it to the gym at least 3 days a week, no matter how late traffic makes me, and fitting in an additional 2 days of running. I’m pumped because I always feel so much better when I’m working out regularly. My mood is happier, I can sleep better and that soft layer beneath my skin jiggles a little less when I walk.
One thing that really helps keep me motivated to exercise is eating a good healthy lunch. Something that will fill me up without weighing me down and keep me energized all afternoon. It can be hard for me to find that balance sometimes but this bowl fits the bill perfectly.
To start, it’s made from a base of protein-packed quinoa, crunchy red and green cabbage, chopped almonds, fresh cilantro and green onion.
And, because you guys know how much I love almond butter, I combined it with ginger, lime, and garlic for a dressing so that is so addicting, you will have to resist licking it out of the bowl.
Last but not least, roasted sweet potatoes are tossed in for a little extra staying power which gives the whole thing a flavor profile that will knock your socks off. And of course the crunchy texture will have you happily munching your way through until the last bite.
I made a big batch for lunches last week and it was so good, I had to make it again this week. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to eating this for lunch and then taking a nice sweaty workout class before I come home to sit on the couch and watch the new season of The Bachelor. That might be another reason I’m excited for this week but let’s keep that our little secret, k?
Ingredients
1 cup uncooked quinoa* (approx. 3 cups cooked)
1/2 head green cabbage, shredded (approx. 3 cups)
1/2 head red cabbage, shredded (approx. 3 cups)
1/2 cup diced green onions
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
3/4 cup chopped almonds
2 medium-size sweet potatoes, diced
1 tablespoon high heat oil
fine sea salt
Almond Butter Dressing
1/3 cup almond butter (I like Justin’s Vanilla Almond Butter)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic (approx. 1 tablespoon)
3 inches peeled fresh ginger (approx. 1-2 tablespoons)
juice of 3 limes (approx. 1/3 cup)
filtered water to thin as needed
Instructions
- Start by preheating the oven to 450°F and then line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the sweet potato pieces in one tablespoon of high heat oil until they are very lightly coated and then spread them onto the baking dish so that they aren’t touching. Sprinkle them with salt and then place the baking sheet on the top rack and cook for 20 minutes, until crispy.
- While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the dressing by adding the ingredients to a food processor and blending until smooth. Add water as needed to thin until desired consistency is reached.
- Next, rinse the cooked quinoa and transfer to a large bowl. I usually use a few paper towels to remove any excess water. Then add the cabbage to the bowl along with the dressing and toss together until coated.
- Once the sweet potato is done, set aside to cool for at least 15 minutes. Then add it to the bowl along with the cilantro, chopped almonds, and green onion and gently toss together. Distribute into bowls to serve immediately or place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Notes
*Click here for directions on how to cook quinoa
Inspired by Ambitious Kitchen
My giveaway for a $100 Amazon gift card is still up and running! Click here to see how to enter!
This looks delicious – especially the dressing! Good luck with your fitness goals in 2015 and have a great week!
oh this is right up my alley and that dressing sounds amazing!! Thanks for sharing
This looks delicious and perfect for the new year! I also feel better when I’m working out and making super healthy meals regularly. I love running, but I need to incorporate more weight work. My butt is not where I’d like it to be (or size?) right now haha
I feel ya, sister! My butt could definitely use a little lifting. ;)
Way to go, making time for health ;) I would love this salad after a hard group fitness class too!!
Haha- yep! That’s the idea. ;)
Oh my gosh, your salads are always so good looking. I love how you made this with cabbage so it’ll hold up well sitting in the office fridge!
Thanks, Kelly! It does hold up really well for leftovers!
I’m right there with ya sister…I need to kick my workouts into high gear, cause this girl’s been luh-ayyyy-zee! This bowl o’ crunch is exactly what I need for all my detoxing. LOVE that almond ginger dressing! Hope you had a fabulous weekend, yourself, m’dear!
Hi Sarah!! So glad you’re back on the workout train regularly this week. Good luck with that! And this recipe, as always, look delicious. I love the flavor combinations.
This sounds AWESOME, especially the dressing! I LOVE AB so so much. I also like the way you think. Justin’s vanilla AB is the bomb!
Almond butter dressing?!! Drooool.
Re: working out, you can do it lady! Side note: This is the first year in forever that I don’t belong to just a regular gym, but every year I always get annoyed by how crowded it is in the month of January! All of those exercise resolutions result in no room for me to work out! Haha.
Yes! I almost started ranting about how crowded the gym is in this post but I decided against it. I’m happy to see people making healthy resolutions but it does make it harder for the regulars. Although it is interesting to see who will stick with it!
That dressing is so simple to make- can’t wait to try it out! I love anything ginger :) Oh, and I feel you about getting back into a regular routine- I’ve never been so excited about a full week of work until now! ;)
This looks soooooo amazing! Perfect for my dialysis/renal diet. I need to add more healthy protein to my diet and this hits the spot! I, too, will be watching The Bachelor tonight – WOO HOO!
Yay! I’m glad I’m not the only Bachelor fan, haha! :)
I’ve been seriously slacking on fitness lately too, but I really want get back into it this year. I picked up a new Jillian Michaels workout video at Target last week so that I can workout at home if I don’t want to drive to the gym – I have no excuses now!
That’s a great idea, Chelsea! I’ve heard Jillian’s DVDs are awesome!
I’ve heard of Peanut Butter but never almond butter… how delicious!! You pick the best colors btw!! Have fun getting back into your fitness routine, time for you is the best time!
Beautiful photography!! Looks delish!!
Thank you so much! :)
Power bowls are what I regularly make for dinner during the week – they always are so healthy yet delicious and simple to whip up too. This quinoa power bowl is one that I need to make – I am just loving the sound of that almond and ginger dressing!
Thanks, Thalia! The dressing is definitely my favorite part.
Pingback: Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette | MarlaMeridith.com — Family Fresh Cooking
I’m trying really hard to get back into working out and healthy eating as well. It can be so hard something though!! Salads like THIS definitely make healthy eating easier — filling, delicious and GORGEOUS!
This looks delicious, Sarah! I STILL have not tried quinoa yet, but reallllly need to! I keep reading how good it is for you!
First of all, such beautiful photos!! I am in love with the colors and cheerful lighting. All of my shots lately have been so dark. Ha ha. Call me inspired. Second, I am so glad to hear you are hitting the gym now. That is great. I totally agree about the mental benefits. So many people focus on the soft layer you mention, and for me the stress relief it provides is even better. Happy new year!
I’m looking for a quinoa power bowl recipe that will keep in the fridge for afternoon snacks over 4-5 days. This sounds like a good one. How long do you keep a batch?
I’ve kept it up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Pingback: Two Super Summer Salads
Pingback: A Week of Easy Dinner Recipes with Quinoa | HelloNatural.co
Pingback: 16 delicious, healthy cabbage recipes
Pingback: 10 Quinoa Bowl Recipes for Every Meal
Pingback: 10 Quinoa Bowl Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner | Umer's Fitness
Pingback: Top 10 Recipes of 2015 + A Giveaway – Making Thyme for Health
Pingback: Whole 30 Dinner Recipes
Pingback: 25 Healthy Make-Ahead Vegetarian Lunches – Making Thyme for Health
Pingback: Healthy Meal Plan for January 4, 2015 - Health & Fitness Coach | Skinny Mommy Fitness
Pingback: The 35 Best Quinoa Bowls - Simply Quinoa
Pingback: Buddha bowl: What it is, why you should eat it | My Southern Health
Pingback: 29 Delicious Grain Bowls That Make Dinner a No-Brainer - Perfect Your Lifestyle
Pingback: 29 Delicious Grain Bowls That Make Dinner a No-Brainer - Rally Health
Pingback: Quinoa salade met zoete aardappel en amandeldressing
Pingback: 53 Super Bowl Recipes, Healthy, Quick and Easy - Easy Recipes for All