No one loves a good recipe more than we do. With the boundless inspiration from food blogs and cookbooks, we could try a new recipe every day and have plenty of fodder for years to come.But sometimes, you want to free-style it without a recipe – and that’s where a simple recipe-free dinnerbowl can save the day. All you need to do isgrab a bunch of your favourite delicious and healing ingredients and toss ’em together for a one-bowl meal. But which ingredients to include?
Here are what we believe to be six essential elements of a simple, recipe-free dinnerbowl.
1. A good source of protein
Protein is essential for healing, repair and growth. Whether you’re vegan or Paleo, a clean source of protein will help you feel satiated, balance your blood sugar and keep you feeling fuller for longer. For a meatlessoption, try chickpeas, lentils, mung beans, almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, baked tofu, or crumbled bits of your favourite veggie burger, and if you consume animal products opt for free range meats, eggs or fish.
2. A nourishing, anti-inflammatory fat
Healthy fats, such as ghee, coconut oil, olive oil, or omega-3 fatty acids such as flax oil or hemp oil, add flavour along with a multitude of healing benefits for our brains, joints, skin, muscle tissue and cells. As with protein, a nourishing fat will keep your blood sugar levels even and prevent you from reaching for mindless snacks an hour later. Wondering which oils are safe to eat or heat? Check out this handy infographic.
Any dark leafy green will do here, so pick your favourite (or a mix of a few different ones). Depending on the time of year, you can have your dark leafy greens raw or lightly steamed – it’s up to you!
4. A lip-smacking, delicious sauce
You truly cannot make a simplerecipe-free dinnerbowl without a great dressing or sauce. You can choose a vinaigrette or dollop on a thick, creamy dairy-free sauce. Often, a dinnerbowl dressing will contain some of the elements above – like an amazing anti-inflammatory fat, or protein-rich, blended nuts and seeds. Some sauce ideas are:
Hummus, with a little bit of extra water to make it pourable
Tapenade
Lemon + olive/flax oil + chopped herbs of choice
Avocado + cumin + lime + red pepper flakes
Coconut milk + curry powder + salt
Photo: iStock/AlexPro9500
5. Seasonal vegetables
Nature is pretty smart. It offers us nutrients in abundance during the times of year we need them most. What’s seasonal depends on where you live – but here at the Academy of Culinary Nutrition headquarters, we like to roast winter veggies, garlic and onions for our recipe-free dinnerbowls during the fall and winter and add asparagus, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, zucchini and even fresh fruit during the spring and summer months.
Seasonal veggies not only provide us with excellent nutritive properties, but they also add fibre – which keeps us pooping on a regular basis!
6. A mix of textures.
A variety of tastes and textures can really help your simple recipe-free dinnerbowl sing! So pair fresh vegetables withcooked veggies, combine crisp greens and crunchy toasted seeds, toss fresh herbs into your vinaigrette, spiralize your vegetables for added textureandflair, toss in cubes of velvety avocado. You get the picture!
Optional: a gluten-free grain or pseudograin
If you consume grains, a cooked gluten-free grain adds texture, fibre, protein and energy-boosting B-vitamins. Try cooked quinoa, buckwheat, sorghum, brown rice, wild rice, teff, millet or gluten-free oats. You could also sprinkle on some raw buckwheat for a tasty crunch. However, if you don’t eat grains, all of the essential elements above will create a full and satisfying meal.
Feature photo: iStock/nata_vkusidey
So what did we miss? What do you like to add to your power bowls?
Free Resource Library
Enjoy more than 40 downloadable guides, recipes, and resources.
A bowl is a typically round dish or container generally used for preparing, serving, storing, or consuming food. The interior of a bowl is characteristically shaped like a spherical cap, with the edges and the bottom forming a seamless curve.
They are typically made of durable materials such as stainless steel, glass, or plastic, ensuring they can withstand the rigors of a busy kitchen environment.
Frequently asked questions. What are the 5 key components of a buddha bowl? A buddha bowl should contain a grain, a vegetable, a fat, a protein, and a sauce.
Ingredient and mixing bowls provide a convenient and efficient way to prepare a variety of foods for cooking. With a wide range of sizes, styles and materials to choose from, these versatile tools are essential for any professional or home chef who wants to create delicious, healthy meals with ease.
The term "bowl" originated from the Rose Bowl stadium, site of the first postseason college football games. The Rose Bowl Stadium, in turn, takes its name and bowl-shaped design from the Yale Bowl, the prototype of many football stadiums in the United States.
A food bowl, much like the name suggests, is a dish in which all of the ingredients are served in a bowl. While people have been eating food bowls for hundreds of years — the now-famous poke bowl is a part of native Hawaiian cuisine — they've only recently become a mainstream, dedicated menu item.
They are mostly made of stainless steel, glass, & bamboo. These types of materials are the safest. Lots of the glass selections were found to be safe via independent testing. You'll find other types of materials like ceramic & porcelain in the “better” section.
Restaurant-styled dinnerware comes in many different styles and materials, each with advantages and disadvantages. Different types of dinnerware include china, porcelain, melamine, plastic, and stainless steel. It differs from traditional tableware in several ways, one of the most important being its durability.
Most mixing bowl sets come in size ranges of 1 1/2 quarts to 5–6 quarts. That's enough to cover almost every cooking need you'd have. We also recommend picking up a larger 8-quart mixing bowl, separately if need be. An extra-large mixing bowl is great to have on hand when you're making a big batch of something.
The Professional is the standard default range bowl from Drakes Pride. It has a middling bias which is suitable for outdoor, indoor and even Short-Mat bowls. The Advantage is a specialist Indoor bowl with a reduced bias designed for tighter rinks, in particular.
First: Straighten your hand and wrist. Second: Hold your bowling arm out at a distance while you're bowling. Third: Keeping your arm straight, swing it towards your ankle. Fourth: Rotate the wrist, hand, and arm away from your body as you bring the ball near your ankle.
Fill a medium to large-sized bowl a quarter of the way full with uncooked rice. Then, place in a few crystals like malachite or citrine for an extra boost of positive energy. Add 2-3 cinnamon sticks to the top of your bowl, followed by paper money or coins in any amount you'd like.
Introduction: My name is Allyn Kozey, I am a outstanding, colorful, adventurous, encouraging, zealous, tender, helpful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
