Recipes: Winter Bowl with Dukkah + Tahini Dressing from Hearty Bite

Posted by Claire Ragozzino

One of the greatest parts of food blogging is being able to connect with incredible artisans, makers and culinary creators from around the world.  And if there’s one thing I’ve seen in this community – there are some seriously talented women out there shaping the way we eat, think, and feel about food!  This year, I decided to launch a new series on the Vidya blog to highlight some of the kitchen goddesses out there who inspire me each day with their ingenuity of ingredients and artful presentation of nourishing cuisine.  This monthly “Seasonal Recipe Share” series will give us a peek inside each bloggers home recipe box and the many ways they each connect with their health through seasonal eating and living.

This month I welcome the lovely Gina Capitoni of Hearty Bite hailing from Cologne, Germany. A fellow yogi and lover of all food served in a big bowls, this is a woman after my heart as she offers our sweet community a hearty winter bowl of roasted root veggies, home-cultured sexy pink cabbage, and the creamiest miso tahini sauce in her recipe below. Gina’s approach in the kitchen combines simplicity of natural ingredients and pleasure in the sensual side of food for connection, creativity and healing of body and mind. Welcome Gina…!

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My heart jumped a little when Claire asked me to contribute to her ”Seasonal Recipe Share”. Thanks Claire for having me here. A healthy winter recipe right after holiday season should be two things: nourishing and seasonal. I am head over heels in love with each seasons abundance. Winter vegetables like sweet potato, brussel sprouts, cabbage and kale are all very appealing. It brings some colour to our plates and vibrant energy into our bodies. Just look at that sexy pink pickled cabbage!

When I started to turn my life around & devote to a healthy lifestyle 6 years ago, I decided to let plants be my medicine. I tried varieties of eating styles, limited myself very tight which led to stressing and obsessing over certain foods, rules and weight. Then I cut all my self-imposed guidelines over a year ago and began to still see food as my medicine but with the intention to listen to my body. Nourishing my mind, body & soul equaly. To be mindful and give them what they need. Without any restrictions or dietary rules to follow. A shift happened naturally, I am content and happy when I am preparing healthy and vibrant food with the extra special ingredient: love. 

Now I am in the lucky position that my body craves bowls filled with sexy veggies and other goods of mother earth. Nature knows, our bodies know and when you let it, your mind knows too. Seasonal food gives us exactly what we need.  The green part of this delicious dish are kale, brussel sprouts and avocado. Brussel sprouts and kale are both true treasures of winter.  Good sources of vitamin K, C, folic acid and beta-carotene. Nutrient dense antioxidants with anti-inflammatory qualities. All we wish for during cold times. Healthy fat comes from the avocado and the tahini in the sauce. And even the brussel sprouts provide some omega-3 fatty acids. The Winter bowl is comforting yet light. Nourishing and oh-so delicious. I used very little salt and took miso and umeboshi paste instead. With or without new years resolutions it’s a good approach to give your body a time to reset and detox. And you can do so by eating with intention. Food that is easy to digest and does not extract too much water from your system. By reducing the salt intake you can assist your own detox processes and taste how the single ingredients in a new way. The bowl is topped with a creamy tahini miso sauce and my favourite topping flavour dukkah. It pairs so well with the roasted sweet potato.

SEASONAL WINTER BOWL 
SWEET POTATO, BRUSSEL SPROUTS & FENNEL ON KALE WITH PICKLED RED CABBAGE,
DUKKAH + TAHINI MISO SAUCE

1 medium sweet potato
1 fennel bulb
1 cup brussel sprouts
2 cups kale, chopped
2 tbsp pickled red cabbage (recipe below)
1/4 avocado
3 tbsp tahini miso sauce (recipe below)
1 tbsp dukkah (recipe here)

Preheat your oven to 390 F / 200 c. Wash veggies, cut the sweet potato in half moons, remove the stem parts of fennel and Brussels sprouts and chop them in bite sized pieces. Spread veggies onto a baking tray with high frames. Add some coconut oil. Roast them for 35 minutes, stir every now and then.

Pickled Red Cabbage
1/2 head of red cabbage
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp maple syrup
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Remove the two outer leaves of the cabbage. Cut it in half. Remove the stem, then take a sharp knife or a mandolin slicer to cut narrow pieces. Prepare a large clean glas jar, put the cabbage into it, alongside the salt, syrup and vinegar. Add water to cover. Close the jar and place in the refrigerator over night.
*Note: Prepare at least one night prior

Tahini Miso Sauce
1/2 cup raw tahini
2 tbsp white miso
1 tsp umeboshi paste (optional)
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp water
1 tsp honey
fresh cracked black pepper

Combine al ingredients in a small bowl. Stir to combine well.

To Assemble
Take a wide bowl, spread the kale on the bottom. Massage the kale with clean hands for a minute. Add roasted sweet potato halves, brussel sprouts and fennel. Some of the pickled red cabbage and 1/4 of avocado. Add the sauce and sprinkle with your desired amount of dukkah. Enjoy!