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Please let me explain the title of this post.
I don’t mean to offend anyone in any way, but well, this bowl is all about the sauce. The sauce was inspired by the “bitchin’ sauce” that my cousin Abby has been telling me about for months. She buys it from the farmers market in San Diego, CA and she LOVES it. You can read all about it here.
Abby’s favorite is the cilantro chili flavor, so I decided to take that flavor and make my own Bitchin’ Sauce, which then turned into this pretty Bitchin’ California Bowl, which I am in love with!
I mean, it has all of my very favorite things, and it’s so pretty. Like just looking at it gives me a boost of energy, you know?? Trust me, I totally need an extra boost of energy these day!!
So anyway, please forgive the name if it offends you… and please just focus on the delicious layers of flavors within this bowl.
So, I’m going to break this bowl down piece by piece, OK? Cool.
***Layer #1: your Bitchin’ Sauce, duh. If you live in California and know about this sauce than you know this sauce is legit. You can also go buy the real stuff and skip the homemade version to make your life a little simpler, BUT let me say that my homemade version is simple as can be and you can also adjust the flavors and texture to whatever your heart desires. All you need is a blender some almond butter, lemon, spices and a heck of a lot of cilantro…super sorry to all you cilantro haters out there…you guys can make/buy the original Bitchin’ Sauce which has zero cilantro. 🙂
BONUS: the Bitchin’ Sauce doubles as a KILLER dip for chips, crackers and veggies of all kinds. Score!
***Layer #2: your grains, aka the must have of any “bowl” recipe. I went with cooked barley in true Cali style, but quinoa works great two!
***Layer #3: the protein. A lot of times I will keep my bowl recipes vegetarian, but for my Cali bowls I really wanted to do a pesto roasted chicken + pesto roasted chickpeas. If you are vegetarian, just omit the chicken and double the chickpeas…either way pesto anything is a delicious addition to these healthy bowls!
***Layer #4: the veggies + fruits… my favorite part!! Roasted beets, radishes, artichokes, cucumbers, watercress, blood oranges, jalapeno slices and avocado…so basically the most epic combo of Cali’s best fruits + veggies!
***Layer #5: the toppings/finishing touches. Toasted walnuts, toasted pumpkin seeds and um cotija cheese, YESS.
So do you now you see what I am talking about??? So many layers of goodness and all packed into one KILLER bowl, hehe, this makes me so happy!! 🙂
Also, bowl food? I’m curious, how do we feel about it? Clearly I am for it, but I want to know, are you guys still into it… or totally over it?!?
Oh and um, on a random note I totally forgot to tell you guys how Red did in the US Open last Friday. Sorry, I know a lot of you have been wondering, but I just got swamped…what’s new, right?
ANYWAY, Red kind of KILLED it. He got 5th, which yes is not first, but for his age the kid KILLED it. This now ranks him 8th in the World Snowboarding points list, so pretty dang awesome. If you would like to watch his run, click here. He’s actually supposed to head off to China to compete in the World Cup (TTR Olympics) but I think he has decided to stay back and film for a movie part he is doing. He went to China last year and well, let’s just say he was NOT really into it. Things are pretty different over there and he’s only 15, I think he just wants some time home chilling with the fam. I get that.
If only I could get Red to eat one of these killer Bitchin’ California Bowls, but let’s be honest, Red would never go near a bowl of food this colorful. Somehow I’ve got to figure out a way to ease him into these types of healthier dishes. Maybe just the Bitchin’ Sauce on top of a bowl of lettuce and carrots with cheese… something simple. For now though, I’m sure he would much more prefer something like these cookies!!
Bitchin' California Bowl.
Ingredients
- 4 red or yellow beets, quartered or halved
- 1 bunch radishes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt + pepper, to taste
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders (omit if vegan)
- 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, rinsed
- 1/2 cup homemade pesto, or store bought
- 2-3 cups cooked barley and or quinoa
- 8 ounces marinated artichokes, drained
- 2 blood oranges, grapefruits and or kiwi, sliced
- 1-2 avocados, sliced
- 1-2 jalapenos, sliced + seeded if desired
- 1/3 cup walnuts, toasted
- 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted
- 1/2 cup cotija cheese, crumbed
- fresh microgreens, dill, parsley, cilantro + lemons, for serving
Cilantro Chili Bitchin Sauce
- 2/3 cup almond butter*
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast or parmesan
- 3/4 cup fresh cilantro
- 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce or Bragg Liquid Aminos
- 1 clove garlic
- 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Peel the beets if desired (I prefer to leave the skin on my beets). Place the beets and radishes on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, salt and pepper. On a separate baking sheet add the chicken and toss with 1/4 cup of the pesto. Place both pans in the oven and roast for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, give the veggies a toss and add the chickpeas to the pan with chicken. Toss the remaining 1/4 cup pesto with the chickpeas until the chickpeas are well coated. Return both pans to the oven and continue roasting for another 10 minutes or until the veggies are lightly charred, the chicken cooked through and the chickpeas warmed. Cooking times for the chicken will vary depending on it's size.
- Allow the chicken to rest five minutes and slice.
- To assemble the bowls, divide the barley between bowls. Add the artichokes, chickpeas and toss together with the barley. Add the chicken, beets + radishes and then add the citrus, avocado + jalapenos. Sprinkle walnuts, pumpkin seeds and cotija cheese. Serve with the Bitchin Sauce (see below).
Cilantro Chili Bitchin Sauce
- Combine all ingredients in a high powdered blender or food processor and blend until completely smooth or creamy. If needed, add water to thin the sauce out. The sauce should be the consistency of hummus or just slightly thinner if desired. Taste and adjust the salt to your liking. The sauce can be stored for up to a week in the fridge.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Bowls for us….ok ok, and then the cookies. I mean, obviously. 🙂
Avocados & blood oranges are around in full force at our farmers market now – I love that combo. Throw in the rest of the ingredients & that bitchin’ sauce & that equals major yum!
Thank you so much! I hope you are having a great week!!
I made this sauce last night and slathered it over a whole plate of roasted veggies (carrots, baby turnip, sweet potato, red onion, broccoli). It’s amazing! And such a simple recipe. Thank you so much for sharing, this will become a regular.
So gorgeous and colorful, I’m in love with all these flavors!
Thanks Laura!!
I will admit it, when I first opened my email I was like, wait…is this from tieghan?? Then quickly got distracted by the bowley deliciousness. lol I eat everythhhhing out of bowls, never over it. I am absolutely making this but how do you think sunbutter would be instead of almond?
hip, hip for bowl food! Thanks so much, Jordan! 🙂
I sunbutter will be amazing!! 🙂
I’m totally running to Whole Foods today to try out this Bitchin Sauce!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
Thank you! I hope you love it! 🙂
This looks yummy!! I am going to try making it for dinner on Saturday night, but with prawns. Question – what could you use instead of radishes and beets? They aren’t my most favourite! Thanks Tieghan for another stellar recipe! xx
HI Whytney! You can really use whatever your favorite veggies are. I think broccoli, sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, brussels sprouts and zucchini would all be awesome! Let me know if you have questions. Thanks! 🙂
Your recipes are insane! (-ley good). I follow approximately 50 food blogs and also have my own, http://www.wellnessrepublic.net/ . I am a MAJOR foodie and live to cook and eat and take restaurant-destination overseas trips so my standards are paramount. Your recipes consistently deliver on creativity and (mostly) nutritional balance. I have been so deeply inspired by your site, thank you!
hehe!! Thank you so much, Nikki! Hope you are having a great week! It makes me so happy to inspire you. Please let me know if you ever have any questions. 🙂
I love how colourful and pretty this bowl is! and that sauceeeee, yum!
Thank you so much, Maya!!
I don’t know if I’ll ever be over bowl food! I love bowls like this with all sorts of different delicious components. The sauce alone sounds pretty amazing!
yeahh!! Thank you so much, Heather!
This is on top of my cooking list!! It Looks sooooo good!
-x,
Ella
Thank you so much, Ella! Hope you are having a great week!
This bowl looks amazing! I live in San Diego and see the Bitchin’ Sauce at the farmers market all the time. Your homemade version sounds great!
Thank you so much, Joy! Hope you are having a great week!
Looks so YUMMY! What a wonderful combination!
Thank you so much, Jena!
Hah for some reason I misread (omit if vegan) to (vomit if vegan) haha ahh it’s to early. This looks awesome Teigan! Can’t wait to make it. Loving the healthy recipes. You’re making it easy to stick to a better lifestyle
haha! Hope this does not make you vomit! yikes! Thank you so much, Sydney!
Totally not over bowls, I don’t think I’ll ever be! Specially yours they’re so pretty and the Bitchin’ sauce I have to try!
And congrats to Red I saw the video and he did amazing!
Oh and can I ask where did you get that blue bowl? thanks 🙂
I got it from a Local Pottery shop located in Frisco, CO. Thanks so much! 🙂
Thank you so much!! Too funny you watched him! 🙂
I am a bowl food FANATIC. If food isn’t in a bowl, then I’d probably not eat it–no, I’m kidding, but still, I love it! You can make bowl food look super pretty as well. I think the presentation of food in a bowl is strangely magnificent.
Go bowl food! 🙂
Thanks Cassie!