Warm Salad Bowl (Printable)

A comforting bowl of warm grains, roasted seasonal vegetables, and hearty greens drizzled with tangy warm vinaigrette.

# What You'll 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 parsley or cilantro, chopped

# How to Cook:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss sweet potato, bell pepper, onion, and zucchini with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on baking sheet and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and golden.
03 - Combine quinoa or brown rice with water or broth in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and 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, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until just warm, approximately 1 to 2 minutes.
05 - In a large bowl, toss spinach or kale with half of the warm vinaigrette, allowing the greens to wilt slightly.
06 - Divide cooked 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 and actually tastes like you spent way more effort than you did.
  • The warm vinaigrette does something wonderful to the greens, making them tender without cooking away their nutrition.
  • One bowl satisfies completely—grains, vegetables, and greens all in one place means no side dish scrambling.
  • You can swap almost every component based on what's in your kitchen, so it never feels repetitive.
02 -
  • Never skip rinsing quinoa—it genuinely tastes better and the texture is fluffier rather than sticky.
  • The vegetables need to be spread out on the baking sheet, not crowded; if they touch too much they steam instead of caramelize.
  • Keep the vinaigrette warm but not hot when you dress the greens—too hot and they become mushy, too cool and they won't wilt properly.
  • Assemble and eat right away; this dish is best when the temperature contrast between warm everything and the fresh greens creates that perfect moment.
03 -
  • Toast your seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes before using them—it wakes up their flavor and makes them taste less like an afterthought.
  • Make extra vinaigrette and keep it in a jar in the fridge; it's delicious drizzled on regular cold salads, roasted vegetables, or even grain bowls the next day.
  • If you're making this for someone with allergies, the entire dish works beautifully without the cheese and with verified gluten-free grains, and it's just as satisfying.
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