Quick Warm and Comforting Weeknight Dinner

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 Warm BBQ Tempeh and Quinoa Bowls with Winter Squash and Bleu Cheese

Try this quick weeknight dinner for a nourishing, comforting, and delicious complete meal.

Prepare the components, then assemble the salad to your liking! 

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium delicata squash
  • olive oil as needed
  • salt
  • 1/2 tsp curry powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • BBQ sauce to taste
  • 1/2 cup quinoa
  • 1 cup water
  • Several handfuls of fresh greens
  • Bleu cheese, feta, or chevre 

Squash

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Cut one 1 medium delicata squash in half lengthwise, then scoop out seeds from the middle but do not peel. Slice into 1/4 inch thick half-moons. Toss with olive oil to cover, salt to taste, 1/2 tsp curry powder and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast until soft and golden brown, flipping halfway through, 20-25 minutes. 

Tempeh

Slice an 8 oz block of tempeh into 1/4 inch thick strips. Toss with BBQ sauce to cover completely and let it marinate for about 30-60 minutes. 

Heat a nonstick pan with a little heat-safe oil in the bottom. Shaking excess marinade off each tempeh piece, place it in the pan and lightly pan fry until it's golden-brown, flipping to get both sides crispy.

Set aside and drizzle with extra BBQ sauce. 

Quinoa

Bring 1/2 cup quinoa and 1 cup water to a boil. Do not stir after the water begins to heat.

Once it reaches a boil, cover it, turn the heat down to low, and do not touch it for 20 minutes while it steams. Check that all the water has been absorbed by pushing the quinoa to one side with a spoon in a single motion. 

Leaves

Choose your favorite winter salad greens: kale, spinach, arugula, lettuce, etc. Wash and chop as desired.

(If you prefer cooked greens, you may choose to wilt sturdier greens like kale, spinach, collards.)

Serve

In a bowl, arrange a scoop of quinoa and a handful of greens side by side. Top with tempeh, squash, and bleu cheese, and extra BBQ sauce as desired. 

(If you're not a fan of bleu cheese, feta or chevre are other nice options. For a vegan option, try a sprinkle of nutritional yeast)



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