Help: what is missing from my vegetarian bean and rice bowls?

[Anonymous]

Sweet chili sauce, makes everything better.

[Anonymous]

I make salads that have a base for romaine. I season the black beans with taco seasoning (hot and spicy), and the rice with cumin seeds, cumin powder, lime, and cilantro. I also make my own salad dressing (similar to the lime cilantro jalapeno dressing at Sweetgreen) and pico de gallo (tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapenos, salt, and lime). That, plus cheese, is fairly substantial usually; or perhaps by the time I make my own salad dressing and pico de gallo I'm so tired that I just eat what's in the bowl! also, what kind of hot sauce are you using? Highly recommend el yucateco (green suace) - it's spicy but very tasty!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've gone meatless 6 out of 7 nights a week, and two of those nights are designated for bean and rice (or other grain) bowls. But I'm having a bit of trouble with the seasoning/balance since eliminating meat from them. I used to do heavily seasons grilled chicken in them, and I am having trouble finding a way to reach the same level of flavor without the meat. They still taste good, but something is missing.

Here was what we put in last night's bowls:

Seasoned yellow rice (garlic, tamarind, cumin, salt)
Black beans (from a can but I heat them up on the stove with salt, pepper, and some cumin)
Grilled peppers and onions (salt, pepper, cumin)
Corn (from frozen)
Fresh grape tomatoes
Avocado
Sour cream
Pepper Jack cheese
Hot sauce

Tasty but just didn't satisfy like it does with the chicken. Any ideas? We are not fans of meat substitutes like tofu. Maybe some fried cauliflower? I'm not sure.

Grill the corn. Needs charting.
Mince some garlic, cilantro, jalapeño, add some crispy tortillas. Lemon juice or lime juice. Reduce the amount of cheese and avocado. These two along with sour cream will blunt the taste of herbs and spices. Black beans need to be cooked a bit more with fried ginger, garlic, onions, tomatos, oregano etc so that it becomes nicely spicy.

[Anonymous]

The chopt green goddess dressing is so good on grain bowls.

Also maybe:
Oven roasted cherry tomatos (sweet, tangy, umami, salty)
Spiced nuts (can buy prepared or make in a pan).
Maybe something like fried halloumi in hot honey

It’s probably something salty you are missing if you miss the grilled seasoned meat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The chopt green goddess dressing is so good on grain bowls.

Also maybe:
Oven roasted cherry tomatos (sweet, tangy, umami, salty)
Spiced nuts (can buy prepared or make in a pan).
Maybe something like fried halloumi in hot honey

It’s probably something salty you are missing if you miss the grilled seasoned meat.

OP here and nuts are a really good idea, that is probably the closest thing to the flavor I feel is missing so far. Might try some pine nuts in this next time, could season and roast in advance. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Season the beans more. Cumin, onion powder (or sauté fresh), garlic and a little lime juice.

[Anonymous]

How much oil are you using in the beans and the vegetables? Add more. Fat gives flavor and perks up the dried spices.

[Anonymous]

I’d put more effort into the beans. Also add crunch. I’d do fried onions personally.

[Anonymous]

Cook dried beans from scratch instead of canned. You can flavor the broth they’re cooked in and they taste so much better.

[Anonymous]

chickpeas
nuts
berries or orange segments
crispy tortilla strips
feta or goat cheese

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've gone meatless 6 out of 7 nights a week, and two of those nights are designated for bean and rice (or other grain) bowls. But I'm having a bit of trouble with the seasoning/balance since eliminating meat from them. I used to do heavily seasons grilled chicken in them, and I am having trouble finding a way to reach the same level of flavor without the meat. They still taste good, but something is missing.

Here was what we put in last night's bowls:

Seasoned yellow rice (garlic, tamarind, cumin, salt)
Black beans (from a can but I heat them up on the stove with salt, pepper, and some cumin)
Grilled peppers and onions (salt, pepper, cumin)
Corn (from frozen)
Fresh grape tomatoes
Avocado
Sour cream
Pepper Jack cheese
Hot sauce

Tasty but just didn't satisfy like it does with the chicken. Any ideas? We are not fans of meat substitutes like tofu. Maybe some fried cauliflower? I'm not sure.

Too much carb (rice, beans, corn), too little crunch (no crushed nuts, fried garlic, chili crunch), nothing bright except maybe the tomato (need bright herbs and lime or lemon).

[Anonymous]

Meat

[Anonymous]

Vegetarian chorizo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pickled red onions and/or jalapeños.

This! We always add these to our bowls, or our veggie tacos. We also like sliced radish for crunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Meat

+1

I was thinking the same thing…