black bean burrito bowls

 

I have many reasons for creating this blog and posting plant based recipes for the world to see. One of my main goals is to motivate you, yes you, to make healthy choices and find the vitality and energy that naturally results from this style of eating. So I'm going to make it easy for you. I'm starting a new "series" if you will, the easy vegan. It's a new page on the blog, similar to the vegan version page that contains recipes that have been recreated without the use of animal products. Easy vegan will contain vegan recipes that are just that... easy. Simple ingredients, minimal cooking time, and limited equipment needed.

To start of the easy vegan page I present you with the black bean burrito bowl. Infinitely adaptable, bursting with flavor, and ready in less than 30 minutes. I haven't included exact measurements for this recipe because it all depends on how many people you are feeding, and of course, how big your bowl is. The cilantro vinaigrette is enough for two bowls.

There are basically five components to a burrito bowl:

• greens- lettuce, spring mix, kale, or a combination
• grains- brown rice or quinoa, make ahead of time if possible
• beans and veggies- canned black or pinto beans, onion, bell pepper, corn, and anything else you please
• dressing- cilantro vinaigrette, creamy cilantro + lime salad dressing, or cumin + lime tahini dressing 
• toppings- avocado, salsa, hot sauce, even tortilla chips-- be creative!

First thing to do is start your grain. I have a little rice cooker so I can just set it and forget it, usually around 20 minutes for a cup of brown rice. Once the rice is cooking, start chopping veggies. For this particular bowl I used red onion, green bell pepper, fresh corn, and black beans. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan, add all the veggies and saute until soft. Add the beans, some salt, cumin, and chili powder, and cook about 5 minutes. Prepare greens as desired; rinse, trim, chop, etc. As for the dressing: 

cilantro vinaigrette

• 1 bunch cilantro
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp water
• juice from 1 lime
• pinch of salt

Trim the cilantro stems from the bunch. Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend until smooth. 

Now it's time to construct your bowl. I literally just go in the order as listed above: greens topped with rice topped with beans and veggies, topped with dressing, and add-ons for the win.

And there was hot sauce, definitely hot sauce on this bad boy.