I am freaking hot. We are currently in a heat wave right this very minute and I am not happy about it. This is my problem with summer, the heat. Or better yet, the heat with humidity. It turns me sour and I can’t deal with anything, including myself. It is not a good look on me.
But a redeeming quality summer does have is all the fresh produce. The farm share is really starting to pick up and we are getting a good amount of fresh goody goods and that is something I can’t not be happy about. But it is still to hot and when it’s to hot, no one (I think) wants to cook. So don’t cook, just compile. A big ass bowl of veggies, some lentil (or use beans if you want) , and creamy peanut sauce. Thrown together within minutes, hardy and satisfying without being heavy and hot, and tasted really freaking good. A meal on it’s own or a fantastic side dish or snack dish or you know, anytime eating time food dish.
It is just a good dish to make and even better to eat. Heatwave or not.
Now to the cauliflower, kale, and lentil bowl with all the peanut sauce!
The stuff. Half a head of cauliflower, a few big kale leaves, half an onion, cooked lentils, peanut butter, apple cider vinegar, hot water, soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
Cut up cauliflower. Just go at it with a knife until it is a pile of small little pieces. Then dice up the onion into small pieces and cut up kale into small pieces as well.
Toss all of that into a bowl and top with the lentils.
Peanut sauce. Mix together the peanut butter, vinegar, soy, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Stir and add in enough hot water to make it creamy, smooth, and pourable.
Dump the peanut sauce into the bowl with everything else.
Toss until everything is evenly coated. And don’t forget to add a good amount of black pepper.
And that is it. Now grab a bowl and a fork and eat. It is really really good.
-C
Cauliflower, Kale, and Lentil Bowl with Peanut Sauce
Serves 1-2 as a big salad or 3-4 as a side
1/2 head of cauliflower
1 1/2 cup cooked lentils
2-3 large kale leaves
1/2 a small onion
Peanut Sauce
1/4 heaping cup of peanut butter
2 tablespoons soy or liquid aminos
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
4-5 tablespoons hot water
black pepper
Start by chopping up cauliflower into little pieces. Some pieces will be like crumble and that is good. Also dice up onion into small pieces and chop kale into small pieces. Place it all into a bowl and top with the cooked lentils.
Make peanut sauce. Place peanut butter, soy ,vinegar, the ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes, and 4 tablespoons hot water into a jar or bowl and mix until incorporated. It should be smooth and thick, but pourable. If to thick, add in another tablespoon or two of hot water.
Once sauce is made, dump into bowl with the rest of the stuff and toss until everything is coated and combined. Top with lots of black pepper and then, well, eat. Or set aside until meal time. Then eat.