I’m always on the hunt for new healthy dinner ideas to get us through the week. Even I, who cooks for a living, get bored of the same old recipes. These roasted sweet potato feta bowls are so delicious, and a great way to pack in tons of nutrients!
The harissa tahini sauce truly makes this dish special. It’s a mix of tahini (sesame paste), lemon juice, garlic, water, salt and harissa. It’s creamy, spicy, and a meal prep staple in our fridge!
Harissa is a hot chili pepper paste widely used in North African and Middle Eastern cooking. It can be mixed into sauces, spread onto sandwiches, or even poured onto a plate of hummus to add a little extra heat and flavor.
When mixed into tahini sauce, harissa adds the perfect combination of flavors to elevate this grain bowl. Tahini is so versatile, and is a great addition to both sweet and savory dishes.
It makes for the perfect sauces, like in this maple tahini tofu recipe, or can replace a fat source in baked goods, like in these tahini oatmeal bars.
The flavor combination in this meal is amazing! You get a good amount of protein, fiber and healthy fat in each portion.
How to prep these easy grain bowls
- Pick your grain. Brown rice is a go-to of mine, but quinoa, barley, farro, or any other grain you like would all be great options
- Roast your sweet potatoes
- Add in some veggies + greens
- Choose a protein! Beans and tofu are great vegetarian options
- Add your feta cheese
- Toss with your harissa tahini sauce
These bowls are delicious, nutritious, and a great way to use up any veggies lying around. The sauce is the best part, so I suggest making a double batch to keep in the fridge to pour onto everything!
Sweet Potato Feta Bowls with Harissa Tahini
Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato, or two medium sized
- 1 cup brown rice, I used long-grain brown rice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Bowl Toppings
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 2 large cucumbers, diced
- 2 red bell peppers, diced
- 1 can of chickpeas (15 oz), rinsed
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Harissa Tahini
- 1/4 cup tahini (sesame paste)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 clove of garlic, crushed
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1-2 tbsp harissa, depending on spice preference
- Salt, to taste
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 375.
- Chop your potato into cubes and toss with the olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Bake for about 35-40 minutes, until fork tender.
- While your potatoes cook, prep your brown rice as instructed on package. I like to stir my rice in a pot with 1 tsp olive oil for 1-2 minutes on medium heat before adding in the water. I then pour in two cups of water for 1 cup of rice, cover the pot, bring the water a boil, and reduce the heat to let it simmer for about 20-25 minutes. Season with salt after letting it sit for 10 minutes.
- Once your potatoes and rice are ready, pour into 4 bowls over a bed of greens with all of your toppings. You can prep these bowls ahead of time, and keep the dressing on the side if not eating immediately.
- For the sauce, whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. For a spicier sauce, add in an additional 1/2-1 tbsp of harissa. Depending on the brand, spiciness with vary.
I made this lunch yesterday and it was amazing! I trusted Gal when she said this sauce was sublime, so I made a double batch and I am so glad I did! It’s delicious! We ate the sweet potatoes with the sauce beforehand and my husband kept going, “so good” every few bites. He’s not a Buddha bowl person – to be honest, he’s a total “bro” when it comes to food (fast food burgers and coke for lunch kinda deal) so this meal was an excellent opportunity to get him to eat healthier. I am pleased to say that my husband and I finished our bowls! AND we were full the entire day! This bowl is truly a nutritious meal that will fill you up with all the good stuff and taste delicious will doing so. 10/10 Recommend.
Side note: I didn’t have bell peppers, so I substituted for avocado and that also tasted great!
Can’t seem to rate this? But 5 stars from me! Thanks for this — will be a new staple. I used couscous as my grain, and didn’t have harissa, so subbed some sriracha and cumin. Really yummy and refreshing, and a hit with our Fri night group.
Thank you so much, so glad you enjoyed it! The 5 stars came through on my end 🙂
Thank you so much for the kind review, Manpreet! I’m so happy to hear your husband loved it as well. The best part about it is that its completely customizable, so you can always play around with different toppings and proteins, and double the sauce for extra flavor.