I’ve been struggling with food lately. For health reasons I’d rather not discuss right now, I was put on a gluten-free, anti-inflammatory, low-fat, nightshades-free diet. Plus I’m vegan. I felt like there was nothing left to eat.
(Side note. I got about zero results when I googled recipes with these restrictions. Which is why I’m a huge fan of this idea. For $25, you can get 3 months access to their new site, plus 2 holiday eCookbooks. Sweet deal.)
For several days, I ate brown rice with steamed vegetables. And fruit. And gluten-free oatmeal. I made a vegetable soup that was okay, but I grew tired of it quickly. Finally, I started to experiment.
Using a base of quinoa and finely chopped kale, I came up with a couple of recipes that I quite like. One is an awesome salad that I’ll share with you soon. The other is this Quinoa Kale Bowl with Mushrooms and Asparagus. It’s very healthy and nutritious, but it’s also hearty and flavorful.
This recipe requires a fair amount of chopping and slicing. Fortunately, I welcome these tasks due to a love affair with my new 14″ round walnut butcher block chopping block from McClure Tables.
When McClure offered to give away two butcher blocks (one for me, one for you), I jumped at the chance to team up for this giveaway. Little did I know it would become my new favorite tool in the kitchen.
Both beautiful and functional, it looks great on my counter even when not in use. And it makes a gorgeous serving piece.
I have a drawer full of plastic cutting boards. Since receiving my new chopping block, I haven’t used a single one of them. Which means a kitchen purge is just around the corner. ;) Here are a few of the benefits to choosing a wood cutting board:
- Won’t harbor bacteria
- Easier on knives than plastic, ceramic, glass and marble
- Wood is completely biodegradable and renewable
- Often supports small businesses (such as McClure Tables in Grand Rapids, MI!)
Never put your wood cutting board in the dishwasher. Scrub it with mild soap after each use. Treat it with food grade mineral oil once a month. Do these things and you’ll have a beautiful piece that will last you for years to come.
McClure Tables is gifting one lucky reader with a 12″x18″ Michigan maple butcher block cutting board! There are several ways to enter the giveaway below. Good luck!
McClure Tables is right here in the heart of West Michigan. They are most well-known for making beautiful, high-quality shuffleboard tables. However, they also create gorgeous butcher block countertops, islands, chopping blocks, and cutting boards. See their full selection here.
Quinoa Kale Bowl with Mushrooms & Asparagus
Recipe Type: Entrée, Side Dish
Cuisine: Vegan, Gluten-free, American
Author: Livvy @ 86 Lemons
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dried quinoa, rinsed
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp gf vegetable broth
- 1/2 lb. asparagus spears, ends trimmed, cut into 1″ pieces
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 oz. whole baby bella mushrooms, sliced very thin
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups very finely chopped kale
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp tahini
- 1/2 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 Tbsp agave nectar
- 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp water
- 1 Tbsp finely chopped basil
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 tsp salt (scant)
- fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a small sauce pan, combine quinoa and 1 cup vegetable broth. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to very low, cover and gently simmer for about 14 minutes.
- Meanwhile, steam asparagus until fork tender. Prepare mushrooms by heating olive oil and garlic over medium heat. Add mushrooms and 2 Tbsp vegetable broth. Cook for about 5-8 minutes, until mushrooms are tender. Add thyme and black pepper, stir to combine.
- Prepare dressing by adding all dressing ingredients to a sealed glass jar or a mini food processor. Shake well or process until thoroughly combined.
- In a large bowl, combine quinoa, kale and carrots. Add dressing and stir until thoroughly combined. Gently fold in asparagus and mushrooms. Salt to taste and serve warm.
If had the money the Chopping Block Maple 25″ x 24″ x 5″ Thick Love it a Michigan company.
Oh, I so know the feeling! I was diagnosed with celiac disease and leaky gut in the spring, and am now also on a low-FODMAPs diet. And I’m vegan, too. So I can totally relate! This looks wonderful — I wish I could eat mushrooms! I can eat kale but in small quantities and without other high-FODMAPs foods. It takes some creativity (which you have in spades), but it can be done! Although I don’t know how you do it without nut butters. That would be a tough one for me. :)
I love the 18″ Round Walnut Chopping Block – it’s gorgeous!
I would love one of their islands. They are beautiful!
I love the butcher block table top, it is stunning!
Any one of their lovely countertops!
I’d pick any of their Maple Chopping Blocks, they’re gorgeous!
I love the dark maple 25x25x5 chopping block.
Hi Livvy, Thanks for the recipe and the intro to this company. The recipe looks great and can’t wait to try it myself. I’d love to have the 18x12x2.5 maple chopping block. Actually, I’d love a bigger one but it’s a bit cost prohibitive! Thanks.
If I could choose ANY item it’d be the Hickory Gathering Block w/ Hickory Base! Gorgeous!!
Was looking for a simple dinner recipe and found it!!!!! I would love the 25x25x5 chopping block!
I love their kitchen islands!!!
I’m sorry to hear about your unexpected life change. Nonetheless, I am very excited to hear that you will be on your way back to health through a gluten-free diet! My boyfriend has Celiac disease, so we mostly eat a gluten-free vegan diet. You’ll discover that a lot of restaurants that have vegan options have gluten-free options, too, and vice versa. You’ll make a lot of great gluten-free discoveries in your journey! The most difficult problem I’ve found is a lot of gluten-free items have egg in them :(, but there are alternatives. My blog is a gluten-free vegan blog, so feel free to browse if you’re looking for ideas. Best of luck on your journey. Oh, and I’d love to have a cutting board!
Oooh, those kitchen islands!
A maple chopping block would look nice in my kitchen:)
Hands down, the countertops!
The butcher block counter tops rock. We need new ones too.
Love your blog and the cutting block. Gorgeous!
Love the cherry chopping blocks (also I’m a Michigan native and this looks like a great company!)
Hickory Kitchen Island Cart would be my pick!
A Gathering Block would fill an empty space in our kitchen. On a simpler level, the round butcher block you are using is gorgeous!
That is a beautiful butcher block you are using! The contrasting colour makes food look amazing right from the chop/grate/mince. Your picture taking definitely helps too ;o) Good luck with your new eating routine. It’s always deflating to see how many things you can’t eat but I can see you are getting your mojo back and will be better than ever in no time!
I was just lamenting my cutting board situation tonight, and then this post came along. These are gorgeous! I’d have to start feeling all grown up and fancy in the kitchen ;)
Oh my goodness, this looks incredible! I’m always on the lookout for a good tahini dressing :) And anything with mushrooms is always a winner for me!
Oooh, and the chopping block maple 18″x16″x3″ is grand!
I would love the round chopping block like yours. It looks beautiful and would make chopping a multitude of vegetables joyfu. Your recipe for the Quinoa Kale Bowl with Mushrooms and Asparagus sounds and looks amazing.
You are so creative, lady. Talk soon…
Looks delish!! Would love that butcher block and maybe we should rename things we don’t use for meat anymore? Plant chopping block? Broccoli block? Plantivore block? Hee hee
I love the walnut chopping block!
Not vegan, but am mostly paleo. I think this would be a great cheat day salad! Thank you. And the photos are lovely as well.
I would love one of those kiitchen islands, in walnut!
I love the butcher block table top
I’d choose the exact round butcher block Livvy is using, I’m obsessed!!
I have hickory floors, so the 36″ x 24″ 5″ Hickory Gathering Block w/ Hickory Base would be pretty sweet.
I would LOVE to have a chopping block island, but I’ll settle for the Hickory Gathering Block with base instead!
I recently moved and have quite a smaller kitchen then I did before. I would like to remodel an old dresser/cabinet into a kitchen cart with a chopping block on top. Winning this item would help me achieve this dream!
I can just imagine how pretty that would look on my counters :)
The 16x12x1 Hickory cutting board looks amazing!
I’m a fan of Hickory. And the 16x12x1 looks like the perfect size.
Oh wow. This recipe looks YUM. Sorry to hear about your health issues! I’m vegan too and have been put on a gluten-elimination diet pending an upcoming endoscopy to see if I have Celiac. Not as strict as yours, but still overwhelming. Thanks for sharing this recipe—and for this amazing giveaway! That round walnut chopping block you got is def my favorite, but the maple one is lovely too! I have two cutting boards that definitely weren’t intended to last as long as I’ve used/abused them, so an upgrade would be welcome. :)
How beautiful!!!!
Hickory and red oak are stunning!
I would LOVE the Maple Gathering Block Turned Legs48″ x 24 x 5″ Michigan Maple
Gathering Block w/ Maple Base Turned Legs!
either the maple or the red oak.
I would so choose the Michigan Maple Edge Grain
Kitchen Island Cart w/ Walnut Base – It’s Beautiful!
This recipe looks amazing, and I Soooo need a new cutting board! I have had mine for so long, it just split in half! :(
I love your butcher’s block! This recipe looks like a total win to me as well. I have so much kale in the garden I have to use up!
The 24 x 60 walnut island would fit perfectly in my kitchen.
I’m lusting after that round walnut chopping block! Thanks for the giveaway.
The kitchen island carts are just gorgeous… but I’d be very happy with even a chopping block or cutting board.
Absolutely beautiful , and would love to have this: http://www.mccluretables.com/p-296-24-x-60-4-walnutppedge-grain-kitchen-island-cart.aspx
Ooooh I like the 24″ x 60″ 3″ Michigan Maple Edge Grain
Kitchen Island Cart w/ Walnut Base
The Cherry 25 inch by 12 inch. Gorgeous. Love the island carts too.
This one is gorgeous and I would love it! Chopping Block Hickory 12″ Round x 2″ Thick
Hello Livvy
First off Thank you for your wonderful website. I wanted to let you know about some alterations I made to your Quinoa Kale Bowl recipe, not as a critique, but as an option:
I did not use mushrooms (I don’t like them), and added the thyme and pepper to the actual salad. I did not add carrots (didn’t have any on hand).
I also made a few changes to the dressing:
Almond butter
Dijon mustard
honey (I know this is not vegan)
red wine vinegar
water
basil
garlic clove
salt and pepper
I also added toasted peacans.
My family loved the salad. I will definitely make it again!. Thank you once again for your great website!
Robyn
I made this last week and I loved it. Perfect recipe and can be versatile too. I will make this many more times. Thank you.
Hi Gina! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading/commenting!
This is deceptively simple and SO GOOD. I’m going to be repurposing this dressing in other things many times too, I can already tell. Thank you!
This was great! Dressing is really clever. Thanks!
I love this recipe