SPICY PESTO & BROCCOLI QUINOA BOWL W/ GARLIC BREAD CROUTONS (GF & V) | dolly and oatmeal

happy 2021, friends :) it feels like a new day. lots of unknowns, and i’m sure future struggles, but today i breath a sigh of relief, and hopefully you do as well.

there’s not much of a good segue way here, so were just going to talk about how good this bowl is!

i know quinoa and broccoli is nothing to really get excited about. that is until you make a super punchy pesto vinaigrette and then mix in a good amount of hot sauce to spice things up a bit. then there’s homemade garlic bread croutons - they’re crunchy and buttery (thank you miyoko’s vegan cultured butter) and garlicky and salty, and really the all-star in this dish. we add some toasted pine nuts which are never a bad idea, and wispy shreds of red onion to add some crunch and flavor.

i really love making component bowls like this because each thing can be made ahead and can stay in the fridge for a couple days, and then assembled the day of. another thing i lean on here is prepared vegan pesto. it’s something i always keep in my fridge ready to throw on pasta, in bowls, pizza, etc., and it just makes preparing this one step easier.

and the last thing i love about this bowl is the leftovers. i especially love making something that can be at the ready for lunch during the week, and this one does just that (you could even double the recipe if you want more). here’s to bowl food, and one’s that leave us with leftovers!

big love, xo

spicy pesto & broccoli quinoa bowl w/ garlic bread croutons | gf & v

| serves 4 as a side |

print the recipe

notes:

to speed things up a bit, i call for prepared pesto for the vinaigrette (gotham greens and gigi’s are both great options), but of course you could make your own ( here’s a favorite recipe from a few years ago).
white quinoa is called for but feel free to use what you have on hand.
lastly, everything can be prepared/made ahead of time and assembled when. needed. simply store each component seperately in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the bowl.

ingredients

spicy pesto vinaigrette

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons dairy-free pesto
1-2 tablespoons gluten-free & vegan hot sauce (i like using this one)
salt and pepper, to taste

salad

1/2 cup white quinoa, rinsed
1 head broccoli, cut into florets
1/4 small red onion
1/4 cup pine nuts

garlic bread croutons

1 cup stale gluten-free & vegan bread pieces
2 tablespoons vegan butter
1 small clove garlic, shaved over a microplane or minced
salt & pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

method

make the vinaigrette. whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice until combined. add 2 tablespoons of the prepared pesto, and 1 tablespoon hot sauce. season with salt. and pepper. whisk and taste, adding more pesto, hot sauce, or salt, if needed. set aside.
make the salad. cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the package. once cooked, set aside and let cool.
while the quinoa is cooking, cook your broccoli. steam broccoli until tender, about 3 minutes. set aside and let cool.
using a mandolin (or a sharp knife), shave the red onion into very thin half moons, and set aside.
heat a pan over medium. once hot, toast pine nuts, shaking the pan every few seconds to toast evenly. remove the nuts from the pan and let them cool completely.
make the croutons. preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. place the torn bread onto your prepared baking sheet. melt the butter with the garlic over medium-low heat until the butter is melted. remove and pour over the bread pieces. season with salt and pepper, and toss everything together. place in the oven and cook until the bread is toasted, about 10-12 minutes. remove from oven and toss together with the parsley. let cool.
assemble the salad. in a large serving bowl, combine the quinoa, broccoli, and red onion. drizzle over half the dressing and toss. taste and add more dressing as needed. top with toasted pine nuts and garlic bread croutons, and serve