At their core, heavenly grain bowls are the perfect way to transform heart-healthy grains, beans, greens, and veggies into an easy-to-make, easy-to-store, and easy-to-eat meal. Customize your own by choosing one item from each of the categories listed in the NOTES section.
Chef's notes
Customize your own one-bowl meal by choosing one item from each of the categories below.
Grain ideas: brown rice, farro, couscous, quinoa, wheat berries, or a mixture
Veggie ideas: raw veggies and/or cooked veggies like lettuce, kale, spinach, zucchini, tomatoes
Beans or legumes: black beans, lentils, kidney beans, cannellini beans
Sauce or dressing ideas: sriracha, honey mustard, lemon vinaigrette, pesto, harissa, salsa
Crunchy toppings: crushed nuts, seeds, fried shallots
Garnishes: sliced avocado, sprouts, herbs
Steps
1
Making the Dish
Ingredients
2 cups cooked barley
1 cup thinly sliced, loosely packed kale
1⁄2 cup cooked cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 carrot, peeled and cut into small dice
5 to 6 pitted Kalamata olives, sliced in half
2 cornichons, cut into small dice
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1⁄4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
3 to 4 basil leaves, sliced thin
1 pitted date, diced (optional)
Combine all the ingredients— except the date—and let sit for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to marry.
If you like a salty/sweet contrast, add the date; if you want something purely savory, simply omit it.
