Oh hey there, Quinoa and Roasted Veggie Pesto Bowl. That recipe that I worked on MONTHS ago, when I posted this fabulous recipe for Lightened Up Basil Walnut Pesto. The pesto, and this veggie bowl, were repeats all summer long.
I started this post, and editing these photos on August 8th. Xander Jackson was born on August 9th. Here we are, October 2nd already? I’m not going to admit how few times I’ve been out of the house in the past 2 months. It doesn’t matter.
Yesterday, some fabulous blogger friends of mine put together a virtual baby shower. (I had an in-person baby shower back in May with my KL friends.) It was such an honor that they went to the work to welcome Xander! Thank you Robyn, of Simply Fresh Dinners, for organizing! Check out the amazing recipes (and a special thank you!):
- Paleo Spiced Almond Sugar Cookies | Cotter Crunch (Thanks Lindsay!)
- Roast Smoked Salmon and Mango-Avocado Salsa Cups | Healthy Recipe Ecstasy (Thanks Michelle!)
- Cheesy Shrimp Polenta Bites | Healthy Nibbles and Bits (Thanks Lisa!)
- Miso Butter Scallop | Omnivore’s Cookbook (Thanks Maggie!)
- Lobster and Bacon Mac and Cheese | Wok and Skillet (Thanks Charmaine!)
- Baked Skinny TEX MEX Fish | Bam’s Kitchen (Thanks Bobbi!)
- Roasted Hatch Chili & Jicima Salmon | Strength and Sunshine (Thanks Rebecca!)
- Baby Bok Choy with Beech Mushrooms | No Gojis No Glory (Thanks Christine!)
- One Pan Caramelised Vegetables | The Big Man’s World (Thanks Arman!)
- Simple Vanilla Cupcakes from Scratch | Natural Chow (Thanks Margaret!)
- Autumn Sangria | Simply Fresh Dinners (Thanks Robyn!)
The sea theme was perfect! Xander wants to thank you too:
He wishes he could have some of the delicious seafood. He’s currently on a milk-only diet 🙁
So, back to the pesto bowls. I published the Basil Walnut Pesto recipe in July– the perfect recipe for using up an abundance of herbs from your garden. Now that summer’s past, a store bought pesto can substitute– although buying basil and making your own is a lot tastier, and often a lot cheaper, too!
One weekend, not wanting to go to the store for dinner, I searched for something creative and tasty to make. This bowl was the result, and Alex enjoyed it so much, we continued making it at the end of every week for a month. Whatever veggies were left got thrown on the roasting pan, and we topped them with whatever protein was left over. If there was no leftover fish or chicken, I poached eggs and added those for an additional protein boost. It would be delicious even without the added protein.
Quinoa is almost always in my cupboard, but I’ve also substituted millet in these. Rice would work if that’s what you have!
Top all those delicious (and simple to prepare) ingredients, and suddenly “simple” goes gourmet!
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa uncooked, prepared to package directions
- 1 potato
- 2 cups eggplant chopped
- 2 cups asparagus chopped
- 1 cup carrots chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Topping
- 1/2 cup Lightened Up Basil Walnut Pesto or sub store bought pesto
- Protein of choice poached egg, left over chicken or fish, etc.
- 4 tablespoons walnuts chopped, optional---adds great texture!
- Lemon juice, sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste - optional
Instructions
- Prepare Quinoa to package directions.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Chop potatoes, carrots, eggplant and asparagus in small pieces.
- Add vegetables to a roasting pan, and coat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes.
- In a bowl, layer quinoa, roasted vegetables, and protein of choice (optional), and drizzle with plenty of pesto.
- To add more flavor (optional), toss quinoa with lemon juice, salt and pepper before adding to bowls.
Nutrition
Yummy, this is a great “clean your fridge” meal, normally for me this would be pizza, but this is much healthier. I love it that it can be so versatile, I am currently in love with spelt and this would work wonderfully with it.
Yes, any grain! I made them with millet last week, which might be taking over as my favorite grain over quinoa lately 🙂 We’ve also made them with brown rice, and I had the leftovers on Saturday with just the veggies, leftover chicken, and pesto, and that was amazing too. Simple, but so yummy! Thanks for stopping by, Kristina!
Xander is just a doll!! I think the pirate theme fits him well as I can already tell he is going to be active and you guys are going to have so much fun together… Do you have a baby jogger? I can picture you trail running with him in no time… LOL Now on to these delicious roasted veggies quinoa bowls. These are the perfect way to deal with those little bits and bobs at the end of the week as soup and fried rice gets boring.. Gorgeous photos and don’t worry about sharing, I already have you covered little mama.
Thank you Bobbi! I feel so blessed to have met all of you and to find support out there in the virtual world 🙂 You have all been so amazing during this transition of mine.
Yes, Xander is a little pirate. He was full of energy in my belly– always moving. I should share some videos– he moves non-stop. While he’s eating (he reminds me a bit of a terrier fighting the postman’s pant leg when he nurses– sound effects and all!), while he’s sleeping, and when he’s laid down to play, he kicks and squirms!
i haven’t bought a jogger yet, mainly because they cost 2x-3x here than in the US– and since there aren’t trails for me to run here, I plan on buying one when I am back in Oregon next summer and actually get to go do trail running. Can you believe I haven’t been on a walk longer than around a small shopping mall in 8 weeks? I walked 7k up hills the day before he was born, and have done nothing since I haven’t been pregnant- and am already 2 pounds away from prepregnancy weight, and I have actually been trying not to lose weight and eating a ton of healthy fats to build up my milk supply. Breastfeeding is serious business!
You’re very welcome, Michelle, it was such fun and a real pleasure to coordinate the party! Everyone was on their game and Maggie and Christine were great helpers 🙂
You know I’m loving this recipe of yours! I’ve already started roasting veggies as a snack, lunch and dinner. I never get tired of it because you can change it up so easily with your spices and ingredients. And I love that it uses up leftovers, too.
And little Xander! Oh my goodness – love the shark and his little grin! You must be having a ball.
All the best!
Haha, yes, Xander is adorable. A little fireball. He is full of energy– too much energy. We are struggling these days with naps– which means hours spent every day rocking the little guy and then holding him to keep him asleep. He almost immediately wakes up if put in his bed. I’ve been reading articles on sleep training rather than catching up on your blogs– and I miss reading them! Soon, (fingers crossed), we will find a new normal and I can go back to the things I really enjoy! Of course, with the most important new thing that I enjoy, taking care of him, intertwined 🙂
I so enjoyed dedicating that post to you and your lovely new family! <3
This is such a wonderful nourishing dish!!
Pack in all the nutrients and stay well and healthy dear! xoxoxoxoxo
Thanks Rebecca! I have your salmon dish pinned to try– but I can’t get green chilis in Malaysia! I might have to make my own– but the chilis here are much stronger and less sweet than hatch green chilis.
It’s been great getting to know you better, Rebecca! I miss reading your blog– I don’t read anything but articles on sleep training these days, because my baby fights sleeping and has to be lulled for hours in order to take naps! Someday soon… things will become a tad bit more normal 🙂 I’m hoping!
yay! wish we could have really done this! and love that little xander. Love the pesto bowls too!
I know, virtual showers are such a tease! All those amazing recipes… and being a new mom, like I have time to cook like that! Smoothies, breakfast cookies, protein bars… my diet is way too much sugar these days! Yesterday I ate just two avocados plain because I didn’t want to eat anything else and needed the calories. I lost 4 pounds last week and I have been trying to eat 3 meals a day plus a snack each time I breastfeed– people aren’t kidding when they say breastfeeding burns calories! And my doctor told me not to try to lose weight until he’s 3 months old because it can compromise your milk supply– which we struggled with the first few weeks.
Congrats again Michelle- Hope Xander has a veggie filled appetite- No doubt he will 😀
Thank you Arman! Yes, I am sure he won’t know life without lots of veggies in it.