Superfood Black Rice Bowl
with Japanese Yam and Chia Dressing
This “superfood” bowl starts with beautiful black rice, an ancient grain that’s nutty and hearty, as well as rich in antioxidants and high in fiber. We layer on the health benefits with Japanese yam, protein-packed pumpkin seeds and nutritional yeast, and mineral-rich cauliflower and kale. The finishing touch is the dressing: chia, ginger, like, maple syrup, and miso, for a mix that’s as nutritious as it is flavorful.
INGREDIENTS
- Fresh ginger
- 2 limes
- 2 tsp chia seeds
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tsp miso paste
- 1 ½ cups black rice
- 28 oz Japanese yam
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 tsp cayenne
- 22 oz cauliflower
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 8 oz Lacinato kale
- ¼ cup olive oil*
- Salt and pepper*
- *Not included
INSTRUCTIONS
Grate the ginger (no need to peel!) with either a box grater or microplane, and add it to a medium bowl. Rinse and halve one lime. Add the juice from the lime, ¼ cup water, the chia seeds, maple syrup, and miso paste to the bowl. Whisk the ingredients together to combine and set aside.
Preheat your oven to 425 °F. In a small pot, combine 3 1/2 cups water, a couple pinches of salt, and the black rice over high heat. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the rice is tender and the water is absorbed, about 25 minutes.
Rinse and peel the yam. Cut into ½-inch cubes. Place yam on one half of a baking sheet, and spread the pumpkin seeds on the other. Toss the yam with 4 tsp oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss the pumpkin seeds with 2 tsp oil and the cayenne. Bake until seeds are toasted, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the seeds to a plate, and continue to cook the yams until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Rinse and destem the cauliflower. Slice the florets into ¼-inch thick pieces. Place a medium skillet over medium-high heat with 2 tbsp oil. When the pan is hot add the cauliflower and cook until caramelized and tender, about 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, nutritional yeast. Halve the remaining lime and squeeze on top.
Rinse, dry, and destem the kale. Discard the stems and stack the leaves. Thinly slice the leaves. Add the sliced kale to the bowl with the ginger-chia dressing, and use your hands to gently massage the kale for 1 to 2 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Divide the black rice between your bowls, and top with the kale, roasted yams, and sauteed cauliflower. Drizzle with any of the ginger-chia dressing left in the bottom of the kale bowl, and top with cayenne pumpkin seeds. Eat up, and power up!