Grain Bowls

We like to think about these five elements: Crunch (raw radish slices or bean sprouts, but we also love flavor-packed additions like quick pickles and fried shallots); Sauce (it can be as simple as store-bought, or more complex, and can vary in consistency from a thin vinaigrette to a creamy sauce like Creamy Feta Dressing); Vegetables (Try cutting your vegetables in a new way to change up the overall appearance, such as shredding, chopping, slicing half moons, cutting matchsticks, cutting on the bias, or even peeling ribbons.); Protein (Even without meat, a vegan bowl can get plenty of protein from tofu, tempeh, beans, or even edamame.); and a Base (By switching out your base from one grain to another, you can make a recipe feel like an entirely new bowl. Toss your base with half the sauce for the bowl and top with the rest to ensure flavor in every bite.)

The first piece of good news is that grains can be made ahead and kept in the fridge at the ready to assemble bowls. The second piece is that the cooking time for many grains can be sped up by using a pressure cooker, and even the microwave! Check out the lessons on cooking grains in this class to learn how.