Cuban Quinoa Bowl with Sazon Cashew Dressing is loaded with Cuban flavors that are layered with mixed greens, black beans, avocado, tomatoes, and cilantro. It is a healthy vegan dish full of authentic Cuban flavors.
On my quest to bring a little Cuba to our table, I did a search for Cuban seasoning because I like to create my own blends instead of store-bought mixes, which can have additives like MSG. I came up with this sazon seasoning recipe, which is pronounced just like we say the word season in seasoning.
What is in a Cuban quiona bowl?
This Cuban Quinoa Bowl is packed with flavor thanks to a variety of vegetables, grains, and seasoning. There are sweet potatoes, quinoa, black beans, salad with tomatoes, smashed avocados all topped with a creamy cashew sazon dressing.
How do you make a quiona bowl?
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the cashews in a glass and cover them with hot water, allow to soak for 20 minutes
- Toss the cubed sweet potatoes in a bowl with olive oil, cinnamon, sazon seasoning, and salt. Place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Roast in 400-degree oven until just slightly crispy.
- Boil Success boil-in-bag quinoa for 10 minutes then drain or cook your quinoa according to boxed directions.
- Toss black beans with salt and cilantro
- For the dressing, drain cashews and place in a vita-mix or small food processor, add the garlic clove, lime juice, olive oil, and maple syrup. Process until smooth
- In a small bowl, mash avocado with a fork then stir in lime juice, cilantro, and salt.
- Assemble the bowls by placing mixed greens in the bottom of two bowls. Divide the quinoa and black beans, tomatoes, and roasted sweet potatoes between the bowls. Add mashed avocado on top
- Drizzle with sazon cashew dressing over the whole bowl and sprinkle with chopped cilantro
What is quinoa?
Quinoa is an edible seed that comes in various colors including black, red, yellow, and white. It is considered an ancient grain, indigenous from South America. When quinoa is harvested it needs to undergo a process to remove the natural saponins, a bitter-tasting chemical compound coating the exterior that acts as a natural pesticide
According to Havard T.H. Chan, Quinoa is excellent alternative to meat in a bowl. It tends to be higher in protein than other gluten-free grains, and it contains high amounts of fiber and iron. Another plus, it cooks quickly.
I realize there are a fair amount of steps to this recipe however it will be well worth your time. The variety of items and favors make this a bowl you will want to make again and again. To save time I use Success 10 minute boil in bag quinoa. I have had trouble cooking quinoa, it always seemed to turn out gritty or too mushy. However, when I discovered Success 10 Minute Quinoa, it now turns out perfect every time.
More about quinoa
Cuban Quinoa Bowl
Ingredients
Quinoa
- 2 cups cooked quinoa I use Sucess boil-in-bag
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 green onions chopped small
Roasted Sweet Potaoes
- 2 sweet potatoes medium sized,peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sazon seasoning salt Homemade Sazon recipe
Black Beans
- 1 cup canned black beans rinsed and drained
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- Himalayan pink salt to taste
Smashed Avocado
- ½ a large ripe avocado
- 2 teaspoons chopped cilantro
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- Himalayan pink salt to taste
Salad
- 3 cups mixed greens
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved
Sazon Cashew Dressing
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- ½ cup hot water to pre-soak the cashews in
- 1 clove garlic
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
- 1 teaspoon homemade sazon seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the cashews in a glass and cover them with hot water, allow to soak for 20 minutes
- Toss the cubed sweet potatoes in a bowl with olive oil, cinnamon, sazon seasoning, and salt. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Roast in 400-degree oven until just slightly crispy, about 20 minutes.
- Boil Success boil-in-bag quinoa for 10 minutes then drain or cook your quinoa according to boxed directions.
- Toss black beans with salt and cilantro
- For the dressing, drain cashews and place in a vita mix or small food processor, add the garlic clove, lime juice, olive oil, and maple syrup. Process until smooth
- In a small bowl, mash avocado with a fork then stir in lime juice, cilantro, and salt.
- Assemble the bowls by placing mixed greens in the bottom of two bowls. Divide the quinoa and black beans, tomatoes and roasted sweet potatoes between the bowls. Add mashed avocado on top
- Drizzle with sazon cashew dressing over the whole bowl and sprinkle with chopped cilantro
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