All the sweater-weather vibes in one bowl: caramelized maple-roasted sweet potatoes, crispy sage chickpeas, garlicky lemon-kale, and a juicy apple cranberry slaw, all tied together with a creamy maple-tahini drizzle. It’s cozy without being heavy, brightly balanced (sweet + tangy + savory), and meal-prep friendly for the whole week.
Ingredients (serves 4)
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled & cubed (¾–1″)
- 1½ Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp kosher salt, black pepper
Crispy Sage Chickpeas
- 1 can (15 oz / 400 g) chickpeas, drained, rinsed, dried well
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried sage (or 6 fresh leaves, minced)
- ½ tsp kosher salt, black pepper
Garlicky Lemon Kale
- 6 cups chopped curly kale (stems removed)
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- Pinch of salt (to massage)
Apple–Cabbage Slaw
- 1 small crisp apple, matchsticks
- 1 cup finely shredded red cabbage
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
Maple-Tahini Dressing
- ¼ cup tahini
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1–1½ Tbsp maple syrup (to taste)
- 2–4 Tbsp warm water (to thin)
- ¼ tsp salt, pinch cinnamon (optional), black pepper
To finish
- 2 cups cooked quinoa or farro (warm)
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
Timings
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Cook: 25 minutes
- Total: 40 minutes
Instructions
- Roast potatoes (25 min): Heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss sweet potatoes with oil, maple, paprika, salt and pepper on a lined tray. Roast 20–25 min, turning once, until caramelized at the edges.
- Crisp chickpeas (12–15 min): Pat chickpeas very dry. Toss with oil, garlic powder, sage, salt and pepper on a second tray; roast 12–15 min, shaking halfway, until golden and crisp.
- Massage kale (2–3 min): In a bowl, toss kale with oil, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Massage with hands until glossy and slightly softened.
- Quick slaw (2 min): Toss apple and cabbage with lemon juice and a pinch of salt; set aside.
- Dressing (1–2 min): Whisk tahini, lemon, maple, salt, pepper (and cinnamon if using). Whisk in warm water until pourable.
- Assemble: Divide warm grains between 4 bowls. Add kale, roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas and slaw. Sprinkle cranberries and pepitas. Drizzle generously with maple-tahini.
Tips & Swaps
- Protein boost: Add roasted salmon, rotisserie chicken, baked tofu, or lentils.
- Keep it crisp: Dry chickpeas thoroughly; space them out so they roast, not steam.
- Make-ahead: Roast veg/chickpeas and cook grains up to 3 days ahead; store dressing separately.
- Extra-bright: Add a splash more lemon to the slaw right before serving.
- Grain swap: Brown rice, couscous, or wild rice blend all work.
Approx. Nutrition (per serving, with quinoa)
~520 kcal • 18 g fat • 76 g carbs • 16 g protein (estimate)
Ultimate Cozy Fall Buddha Bowl (Maple Sweet Potatoes, Sage Chickpeas & Apple-Tahini Drizzle)
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All the sweater-weather vibes in one bowl: caramelized maple-roasted sweet potatoes, crispy sage chickpeas, garlicky lemon-kale, and a juicy apple cranberry slaw, all tied together with a creamy maple-tahini drizzle. It’s cozy without being heavy, brightly balanced (sweet + tangy + savory), and meal-prep friendly for the whole week.
Ingredients
Method
- Instructions
- Roast potatoes (25 min): Heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss sweet potatoes with oil, maple, paprika, salt and pepper on a lined tray. Roast 20–25 min, turning once, until caramelized at the edges.
- Crisp chickpeas (12–15 min): Pat chickpeas very dry. Toss with oil, garlic powder, sage, salt and pepper on a second tray; roast 12–15 min, shaking halfway, until golden and crisp.
- Massage kale (2–3 min): In a bowl, toss kale with oil, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Massage with hands until glossy and slightly softened.
- Quick slaw (2 min): Toss apple and cabbage with lemon juice and a pinch of salt; set aside.
- Dressing (1–2 min): Whisk tahini, lemon, maple, salt, pepper (and cinnamon if using). Whisk in warm water until pourable.
- Assemble: Divide warm grains between 4 bowls. Add kale, roasted sweet potatoes, chickpeas and slaw. Sprinkle cranberries and pepitas. Drizzle generously with maple-tahini.
Nutrition
Notes
Tips & Swaps
- Protein boost: Add roasted salmon, rotisserie chicken, baked tofu, or lentils.
- Keep it crisp: Dry chickpeas thoroughly; space them out so they roast, not steam.
- Make-ahead: Roast veg/chickpeas and cook grains up to 3 days ahead; store dressing separately.
- Extra-bright: Add a splash more lemon to the slaw right before serving.
Grain swap: Brown rice, couscous, or wild rice blend all work.
