Black-Eyed Pea Grain Bowl (Print Version)

Hearty bowl with black-eyed peas, farro, roasted sweet potato and vegetables, fresh herbs, and toasted seeds.

# Ingredient List:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup farro or wild rice, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Black-Eyed Peas

04 - 1 1/2 cups cooked black-eyed peas or 1 15-ounce can, drained and rinsed

→ Roasted Vegetables

05 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
08 - 1 red onion, cut into wedges
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Fresh Herbs and Toppings

13 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
14 - 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, optional for vegan variation
15 - 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
16 - Lemon wedges for serving

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 425°F
02 - In a medium saucepan, combine farro or wild rice with water or broth and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer according to package instructions, approximately 25-30 minutes for farro or 40-45 minutes for wild rice. Drain any excess liquid when tender.
03 - While grains cook, toss sweet potato cubes, diced bell pepper, sliced zucchini, and onion wedges with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Distribute evenly across a baking sheet.
04 - Place baking sheet in preheated oven and roast for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until vegetables are tender with caramelized edges.
05 - Heat cooked black-eyed peas in a small saucepan or microwave until warmed through.
06 - Divide cooked grains equally among four serving bowls. Layer black-eyed peas and roasted vegetables over the grain base.
07 - Garnish each bowl with fresh chopped herbs, feta cheese if desired, and toasted seeds. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.

# Helpful Hints:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and tastes like you spent way more time on it than you actually did.
  • You can prep everything while the grains cook, so there's minimal juggling of pans and timers.
  • It's endlessly customizable depending on what's in your fridge, making it feel fresh even when you make it twice a week.
02 -
  • Don't skip stirring the vegetables halfway through roasting, or you'll end up with some burnt edges and some still-raw centers that don't come together the way you'd hoped.
  • Toast your seeds in a dry pan for a couple of minutes before adding them to the bowls, it makes a real difference in how they taste and keeps them crisp instead of soft.
03 -
  • If your farro or rice seems dry after cooking, add a splash of broth or water and cover it for a minute to let it absorb back in rather than letting it get tough.
  • Roast your vegetables on parchment paper or a silicone mat and cleanup becomes almost laughably easy, leaving you more energy to actually enjoy what you made.
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