When you crave a hearty, filling and super delicious plant-based bowl, give these winter flavors a try. My Purple Potato + Maitake + Avocado + Cheesy Quinoa Winter Bowl is easy to put together. I absolutely adore this bowl and have been making it at least once a week, with a few ingredient variations each time.

And while I adore adding these unique purple potatoes, you could easily sub with squash or golden sweet potato...

Simple dressing on top.. (I use the recipe below or I also love the No Honey Mustard flavor by Follow Your Heart)

Purple potatoes.. I found them at the farmer's market here in Los Angeles.

Simple to roast with a touch of EVOO.

purple potatoes..

Toss potatoes in nooch and smoky paprika is desired..

This is the super healing and comforting winter feast I have been obsessed with lately. All my faves in one big bowl.

About the ingredients:

* Maitake Mushrooms. I love these mushrooms just as much as I love shiitakes. I rarely buy "white button" mushrooms anymore and opt for maitake or shiitake or oyster. Maitake mushrooms from Dr Weil:

"Maitake: This delicious Japanese mushroom is also called "hen of the woods" because it grows in big clusters that resemble the fluffed tail feathers of a nesting hen. You should be able to find these mushrooms dried or fresh in Japanese markets, gourmet foods stores, or upscale supermarkets. Extracts are also widely available. Maitake has anticancer, antiviral, and immune-system enhancing effects and may also help control both high blood pressure and blood sugar levels."

* Avocado: Rich in healthy fats and loads of buttery flavor. I adore avocados and usually eat them at least once a day or every other day. Avocados contain vitamins C and E. They are also rich in fiber.

* Quinoa: Quinoa is a good source of plant-based protein, fiber, iron, copper and magnesium. It is actually a seed, not a grain. Quinoa is light and fluffy and soaks in flavors quite well. Which is why I love adding nutritional yeast with its cheezy flavor to quinoa.

* Purple Potatoes: The farmer I bought my purple potatoes from said "these are the healthiest potato!" He said they were much more rich in iron than the white potatoes sitting next to them. He also said to keep the skins on because that is where all the nutrients lie. Some more about purple potatoes from Sun Sentinel:

"The purple spud's striking pigment is its nutritional crown and glory, courtesy of the antioxidant powerhouse anthocyanin, which is responsible for the purple and blue color of fruits and vegetables. This flavonoid has been shown in studies to possess anti-cancer and heart-protective effects, as well as benefits like boosting the immune system and protecting against age-related memory loss."

..yup you have to love those anthocyanins!..

"These powerful compounds, anthocyanins, may help prevent CVD and cancer and boost cognitive function." - learn more about anthocyanins.

Just really delicious.. So enough of all that nutrition talk, seriously, this bowl is just yummy. All these flavors go so well together. The earthy warm mushrooms from a sizzling skillet, the fluffy and cheezy quinoa, the buttery diced avocado with a hint of perky lemon and those cozy roasted purple potatoes. I like a creamy dressing on top. One with either a simple maple-tahini base or even vegan mayo and maple. You can use whatever dressing you'd like though - these ingredients pair well with pesto dressings, creamy vegan ranch, balsamic and more.

Grab a big bowl and make this for dinner tonight!..

Purple Potato + Mushroom + Avocado Winter Bowl

By Kathy Patalsky
Published 02/26/2016

This winter bowl is packed with healthy ingredients like shiitakes, purple potatoes and buttery avocado.

Ingredients

2 cups purple potatoes, diced
2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
6 shiitake or maitake mushrooms, thinly sliced/stems removed
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
4-5 cups leafy greens (baby greens or winter greens like kale)
1 ½ cups cooked quinoa
1-2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
1 avocado
2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cup shredded or spiralized raw beets
Easy Creamy Dressing:
1 tablespoon tahini or vegan mayo (tahini is richer and nutty, mayo is smooth and light)
2 teaspoon maple syrup
2 teaspoon lemon juice
--
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Scrub your potatoes and dice. Toss potatoes in 2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil. Lay them flat on a baking sheet. Bake potatoes at 400 degrees until tender and edges are crisp and browned. This should take around 20 minutes. When potatoes are cooked, toss in optional spices. (I used nutritional yeast, smoky paprika and salt and pepper).
In a skillet, warm 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil. Add the mushrooms. Cook for 5-7 minutes, tossing every minute or so. You want to cook the mushrooms until the are tender, fluffy and slightly browned on the edges. When mushrooms are cooked through, add salt and pepper to taste.
For the quinoa, toss the quinoa with about 1-2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast.
Toss the diced avocado in 2 teaspoon lemon juice.
To assemble bowls: place greens in serving bowls. Add the quinoa, mushrooms, avocado and potato on top.

Yield: 2 bowl
Prep Time: 00 hrs. 10 mins.
Cook time: 00 hrs. 30 mins.
Total time: 40 mins.
Tags: bowl,entree,dinner,vegan,salad,potatoes,mushrooms,quinoa,avocado,meal