Want to know the secret to creating a delicious power bowl? It’s all in the sauce. The sauce is what sets apart the power bowl from it’s lighter cousin, the salad. Power bowls are a meal prep favorite around here, and I’ve got four must-make power bowl sauces for you to choose from for a hearty and nutritious easy weeknight meal.
Power bowl versus salad – which makes you more excited? When I think salad, I think of a big bowl of leafy greens with light toppings. Something I usually crave when I know I haven’t been eating enough veggies.
Related post: 30 Plant-Based Power Bowl Recipes to Fuel Your Day
Power bowls on the other hand make me crave a hearty meal made up of leafy greens, beans, roasted veggies and maybe some whole grains. The real differentiator is the creamy, decadent sauce.
Salads = raw
Power bowls = cooked
Did you know that I’ve got a whole power bowl section in my book SIMPLY SWAPPED Everyday? Grab your copy here!
Create your own power bowl night is always one of my favorite cooking class menus. The guys are happy because the sauce gives the meal a richness, while the ladies are happy because it’s still light and plant-powered!
In my opinion, the perfect power bowl is made of up leafy greens, ½ cup whole grains and/or beans, a mix of roasted and raw veggies, avocado, nuts/seeds, protein, and of course, a heavy drizzle of the sauce.
You can use any kind of protein to finish off your bowl that you like – salmon, grilled chicken, meatballs, beans or even hemp seeds would all work well!
Without further ado, let’s get into the four must-make sauces shall we?
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Lemon Tahini Dressing
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Makes 4 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup filtered water (or more to thin)
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.
Keywords: power bowl, meal prep, cheesy dressing, roasted red pepper, avocado cilantro, lemon tahini, sauce, roasted vegetables, meatless monday
Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Makes 4 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 whole roasted red peppers
- 1/4 cup parsley
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Keywords: power bowl, meal prep, cheesy dressing, roasted red pepper, avocado cilantro, lemon tahini, sauce, roasted vegetables, meatless monday
Cheesy Cashew Herb Dressing
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Makes 4 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup raw cashews, soaked for 4 hours
- 1/4 cup filtered water
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 Tablespoons chives
- 2 Tablespoons cilantro
- 2 Tablespoons basil
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more water if needed to thin.
Notes
In this recipe we are swapping a dairy-based ingredient for soaked cashews to achieve the creamy texture. We are also swapping cheese for nutritional yeast – a food that has a slightly nutty and cheesy flavor!
Keywords: power bowl, meal prep, cheesy dressing, roasted red pepper, avocado cilantro, lemon tahini, sauce, roasted vegetables, meatless monday
Avocado Cilantro Crema
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Makes 4 servings 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Blender
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 avocado, pitted and peeled
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
- 2 Tablespoons cilantro
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Notes
A lot of Mexican restaurants use sour cream to achieve a creamy avocado dressing. We are swapping sour cream for lighter dairy-free milk and utilizing the buttery texture of the avocado for a creamy texture!
Keywords: power bowl, meal prep, cheesy dressing, roasted red pepper, avocado cilantro, lemon tahini, sauce, roasted vegetables, meatless monday
Now, which one are you going to try first? That’s the tough question.
Enjoy!
