Baja Bowl Inspired by Panera

These flavorful bowls, inspired by Panera version, include layer after layer of fresh flavor and a variety of textures. You get some nutty chewiness with the grains, tender softness and sweet flavor from the sweet potatoes, tart tang from the cilantro lime dressing, and a crisp bite from the fresh bell pepper and corn.

Collectively they create one beautifully colorful and deliciously satisfying grain bowl.

After you try this Mexican spin on grain bowls you can try building your own grain bowl from scratch. Wondering how to build a grain bowl? Simply include a base layer of grains, add fresh and/or roasted vegetables, a protein (such as legumes, meat, tofu, eggs) or cheese, fresh greens, and finish with a dressing or sauce of choice.

They make such a filling dinner and are an excellent option for make ahead meal prep for lunch too.

Possible Variations

To build these bowls include the grain and black beans, from there you can add your own substitutions:

• Protein: These can also be made with chicken thighs or chicken breasts in place of the sweet potatoes, I've included instructions in the note of the recipe.
• Cheese: You can add cheese such as feta, cheddar or queso fresco.
• Sauces: They are also delicious with a heaping spoonful of salsa, pico de gallo or a finishing drizzle of Mexican hot sauce.  If you want more creaminess try serving them with a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
• Veggies: You can subsistute some of the vegetables here for others you may have on hand, that's the beauty of a grain bowl. Poblano pepper, zucchini, winter squash, or tomatoes are a great fit.
• Grains: These could also be made with farro or barley. Or you can use all brown rice or all quinoa rather than a blend.

Greek Chicken Bowl

I've shared Greek chicken bowls before but they called for marinated and grilled chicken. I wanted a simpler weeknight and winter friendly version that was just as delicious, so created this stovetop variation.

They are still brimming with flavor, abundant in fresh goodness, and it's all about those sauces (they include both tzatziki and hummus and it makes all the difference).

It's a one bowl meal you can feel great about serving as it includes a whole grain, a complete protein, healthy fats (olive oil and avocado), and a tons of vegetables. And of course we throw some cheese in there because feta adds so much flavor.

Also try the other variations I've shared below (you can swap out things like quinoa for rice, avocado for olives, and parsley for mint). It's a versatile Greek bowl that's sure to satisfy without leaving you feeling weighed down.

Looking for more healthy soup recipes? Try my classic Vegetable Soup, Cabbage Soup and Lentil Soup.

So this is me, I eat pretty healthy most of the time so I can make room for dessert all the time. I'm kidding (sort of). But really, I think balance is important, which doesn't really mean dessert every day but sometimes I think it's necessary.

I've said it before, all the healthy food is definitely good for your physical health but I say the sweet stuff is good for my emotional health because how could I survive without sugar (especially chocolate)? Addicted? Maybe. Content with that, definitely.

This soup has got to be one of the healthiest I've ever made though. It is packed with so many fresh, healthy ingredients and it really does taste amazingly delicious!

I've learned that light and healthy recipes don't need to be boring, they just need to have the right blend of flavors and good seasoning and it makes such a big difference.

You’ll love how this soup is very filling without all lots of added fats or empty carbs. Plus it makes a big pot-full so you can have some for lunch for the next few days.

And yes, this minestrone soup recipe does call for quite a few ingredients but don't shy away from this recipe because of that. It's worth it!

Photography credit: Jess Larson

Quinoa is my go-to option when I need to serve a group with dietary restrictions. It's so easy to make a colorful, healthy, and hearty meal or side dish for people who are gluten-free or vegan when you use a quinoa base. Looking for more healthy quinoa salads? Try my new recipes for fruity Mango Black Bean Avocado Quinoa Salad and the zesty Sun Dried Tomato Quinoa Salad.

Quinoa Salad with Fresh Mediterranean Flavors

Take bland and basic quinoa up at least 10 levels with fresh and vibrant Mediterranean ingredients in this easy quinoa salad!

Healthy recipes don't need to be boring. In fact, healthy recipes like this are actually some of my favorites. You just feel good after you eat them, and when there's this much flavor, you'll start to crave healthy dishes.

This quinoa salad makes the perfect lunch—it's a great way to eat lots of vegetables at once, and you get a fair amount of protein from the quinoa and chickpeas. Quinoa salad is a great way to clean out the fridge and use up your leftover produce. Bought too much asparagus? Is your garden producing a huge amount of zucchini? Use it in a salad!

It's a cold quinoa salad, so it's deliciously refreshing too.

Maybe buy double the ingredients so you can make it again the next day!

It's been far to long since I shared a salad recipe here. It seems as though I've shared every kind of salad out there but I've been missing a sun dried tomato salad.

I love those shriveled little bits of sun kissed tomatoes, they might be small but they pack a lot of exciting gourmet flavor.

They pair perfectly with this mellowly sweet and tangy balsamic dressing and the nutty quinoa and almonds.

This is the perfect side dish for dinner but it also makes a nutritious and filling lunch, with or without chicken added.

Try it! You'll love this combination of goodness!

The inspiration for this recipe came from a local restaurant we dined at. Out of everything we ordered this was easily my favorite, I couldn't stop thinking about how good it was so I knew I had to make it at home.

Their version had ground lamb but I prefer chicken so I went with that instead but feel free to try it with cooked ground lamb if you'd like.

This soup is brimming with nutritious ingredients and finished with a bit of cream to make it rich and take it over the top. But if you are wanting to keep it healthy go with coconut milk or even half and half.

We often get in the rut of making the same easy things but I love recipes like this that have so much flavor and are something out of the norm. This is a soup that's sure to impress!

The Perfect Kale Salad Recipe!

Thanks to this refreshing kale salad, I've finally found a way to eat raw kale and have it actually taste good! We couldn't get over how delicious this salad was and I'm already thinking of when I'll be making it again!

The flavor of the dressing, thanks to the lemon juice and honey in it, really helps tone down the somewhat harsh flavor of the raw kale. Plus, it also just compliments all of the others flavors in this salad - like that of the quinoa, walnuts, apples and goat cheese.

This is the perfect side at dinner to roasted chicken and mashed or roasted potatoes. It's also the perfect salad to bring to a party.

Originally shared Sept. 2016.

Ingredients You'll Need

• Tricolor quinoa
• Curly kale
• Apples
• Walnuts
• Cranberries
• Goat cheese
• Olive oil
• Lemon
• Honey
• Dijon

Are There Substitutions?

• Regular brown quinoa is fine in place of the tricolor
• Pecans could replace the walnuts.
• Feta could replace the goat cheese.
• Baby kale or lacinato kale can be used in place of curly kale, but do note that it won't require a resting period and may not hold up as long.

How to Make This Easy Kale Salad

• Cook quinoa according to directions on package and cool completely.
• Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients in a jar or bowl.
• Add kale to a salad bowl, whisk dressing once more then pour 3/4 of the dressing over kale and toss until kale is evenly coated. Chill 15 minutes.
• Add apples, quinoa, walnuts and cranberries.
• Pour remaining dressing over salad then toss. Add goat cheese, toss gently.

Tips for This Salad

• Use sweet apples to balance the tartness of the lemon. Use pretty red onions for a pretty color contrast.
• Let the dressing rest on the kale to help soften those not so tender leaves.
• Store it in the fridge up to 4 hours. Finally a salad that holds up well for a while!

More Kale Recipes You'll Love!

My Favorite Buddha Bowl

I didn't use to care much for vegetarian recipes but I learned it's all about cooking and seasoning things right.

When you layer in the flavors you turn boring things into something fabulous!

Ingredients You'll Need for This Recipe

For the Bowls

For the Ginger Tahini Sauce

• Tahini
• Lemon
• Honey
• Garlic
• Ginger

Tahini can be somewhat strong (and it can vary by brand), so if desired use half cashew butter.

Vegetarian Quinoa Black Bean Tacos Recipe

This dish is incredibly hearty and filling and they are jam packed with healthy ingredients (many of which are considered a pantry staple, too). This is definitely one of my favorite recipes!

I have changed this recipe a lot since I originally shared it. Not that it was bad at all, I just made the recipe more efficient and improved the texture. Before you'd cook the quinoa first then add it and simmer for 20 minutes. So it ended up cooking longer than needed and was too brothy.

I also added seasonings to my taste and cut back on the cayenne because most people don't love heat as much as I do. So now we've got a perfect, quick, weeknight dinner the whole family can enjoy.