Black-Eyed Pea Buddha Bowl (Printable)

A wholesome bowl with black-eyed peas, roasted vegetables, quinoa, and tahini dressing for a balanced vegan meal.

# What You 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 or 1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
13 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Fresh Ingredients

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 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 Make It:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and somehow tastes like you spent all morning in the kitchen.
  • The tahini dressing is creamy enough that you won't miss dairy, and it elevates everything it touches.
  • You can prep components ahead and assemble on busy evenings, making it perfect for meal planning without the monotony.
  • One bowl delivers real protein and fiber, so you stay satisfied for hours without the 3 p.m. energy crash.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa; I learned this the hard way when the bitter coating ruined an entire batch and I had to start over.
  • Roast vegetables on a single layer with some space between them, or they'll steam instead of caramelize—that golden crust is where all the flavor lives.
  • Tahini dressing made ahead will thicken as it sits; add water gradually when you're ready to serve, and it'll reach that perfect drizzle consistency again.
03 -
  • Taste the tahini dressing while you're whisking it; lemon and salt are the two things that make it sing, so season it like you mean it.
  • Don't stress about vegetable perfection—uneven pieces roast with more character and varied textures than uniformly cut ones.
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