Kale Harvest Grain Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant bowl with massaged kale, quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, apple, pomegranate, and pepitas in tangy dressing.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Grains & Greens

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 1 large bunch kale, about 6 cups, stems removed, leaves finely chopped

→ Roasted Vegetables

03 - 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Fresh Toppings

07 - 1 medium apple, cored and diced
08 - 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
09 - 1/4 cup pepitas

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
15 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss diced sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and tender.
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa with 2 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Place chopped kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with a small splash of olive oil and a pinch of salt, then massage kale with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until softened and dark green.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper until well combined.
05 - Divide massaged kale among four bowls. Top each with equal portions of quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, diced apple, pomegranate seeds, and pepitas.
06 - Drizzle dressing over each bowl just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The kale gets soft and buttery when you massage it with just a whisper of olive oil, so you're not fighting with tough leaves.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead except the apple and dressing, making weekday lunches actually doable.
  • It tastes better the next day because the quinoa soaks up all those dressing flavors overnight.
02 -
  • Massaging kale with oil and salt before assembly is not optional—it's the move that transforms it from tough and cabbage-like into something tender and almost creamy.
  • Don't dress the bowl more than 30 minutes before eating unless you like your kale wilted; the vinegar in the dressing is aggressive and works fast.
03 -
  • Buy pomegranate seeds already seeded from the produce section—life is short and pomegranate extraction is frustrating.
  • If you can't find curly kale, baby kale works perfectly and requires even less massage time since it's already tender.
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