Spiced Winter Bowls Fusion

Featured in: Healthy Options

Enjoy these vibrant spiced winter bowls featuring roasted butternut squash, sweet potato, and red onion seasoned with warming spices. The comforting quinoa base is enlivened by a creamy ube-coconut purée and topped with maple-pistachio crumble. Fresh baby greens and pomegranate seeds add a lively contrast, while optional feta cheese or microgreens complete each hearty serving. Easily customizable for dietary needs, this dish is perfect on cool days, offering both nutrition and spirited flavor. Craft each bowl to your taste and savor seasonal produce in every bite.

Updated on Sat, 01 Nov 2025 11:27:00 GMT
A comforting Spiced Winter Bowl filled with roasted vegetables and vibrant toppings.  Save
A comforting Spiced Winter Bowl filled with roasted vegetables and vibrant toppings. | griddleglory.com

A cozy, nutrient-rich bowl featuring roasted winter vegetables, warming spices, and creative toppings like pistachio&maple and ube&coconut. Perfect for chilly days and customizable for the season.

I first made these spiced winter bowls on a cold evening with leftover root vegetables, and the creative combination of ube&coconut and pistachio&maple instantly transformed the meal into something special. The vibrant layers make this a favorite for cozy nights at home.

Ingredients

  • Butternut squash: 2 cups, peeled and cubed
  • Sweet potato: 2 cups, peeled and cubed
  • Red onion: 1, cut into wedges
  • Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
  • Ground cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
  • Ground cumin: 1/2 teaspoon
  • Smoked paprika: 1/2 teaspoon
  • Salt: 1/2 teaspoon for roast, 1/2 teaspoon for quinoa, pinch for purée and crumble
  • Black pepper: 1/4 teaspoon
  • Quinoa (or brown rice): 1 cup, rinsed
  • Water: 2 cups
  • Ube (purple yam): 1 cup cooked, mashed
  • Coconut milk: 1/3 cup
  • Maple syrup: 1 tablespoon for purée, 1 tablespoon for crumble
  • Shelled pistachios: 1/2 cup, roughly chopped
  • Ground cardamom: 1/4 teaspoon
  • Baby spinach or kale: 1 cup, chopped
  • Pomegranate seeds: From 1 small pomegranate
  • Feta cheese: 1/3 cup, crumbled (optional)
  • Microgreens: For garnish (optional)

Instructions

Prepare vegetables:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Roast vegetables:
Toss squash, sweet potato, and onion with olive oil, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread on the baking sheet. Roast for 30–35 minutes, turning once, until golden and tender.
Cook grain:
Combine quinoa and water in a saucepan with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15–18 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
Make ube&coconut purée:
Blend mashed ube, coconut milk, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt until smooth. Adjust sweetness or coconut milk as desired.
Make pistachio&maple crumble:
Heat pistachios, maple syrup, cardamom, and salt in a nonstick skillet. Stir constantly for 2–3 minutes until sticky and glossy. Spread on parchment to cool.
Assemble bowls:
Divide quinoa into bowls. Top with roasted vegetables, ube&coconut purée, pistachio&maple crumble, chopped greens, pomegranate seeds, and feta if using. Garnish with microgreens.
Serve:
Serve warm.
Colorful roasted winter vegetables in a cozy Spiced Winter Bowl with ube-coconut purée.  Save
Colorful roasted winter vegetables in a cozy Spiced Winter Bowl with ube-coconut purée. | griddleglory.com

My family loves making big winter bowls on Sunday nights, customizing each plate with favorite toppings. It's become a tradition to try a new garnish every time.

Required Tools

Baking sheet, parchment paper, medium saucepan, mixing bowls, nonstick skillet, blender or food processor

Allergen Information

Contains tree nuts (pistachios) and dairy (feta, optional). Check labels and cross&contamination for gluten&free needs.

Nutritional Information

Per serving: 410 calories, 16 g total fat, 59 g carbohydrates, 9 g protein

Satisfy your cravings with a delicious Spiced Winter Bowl topped with pistachio-maple crumble. Save
Satisfy your cravings with a delicious Spiced Winter Bowl topped with pistachio-maple crumble. | griddleglory.com

Enjoy these vibrant bowls with a dry Riesling or spiced chai tea. Let everyone layer their own favorite winter toppings for a true seasonal feast.

Cooking Questions

Can I substitute ube with another ingredient?

Yes, purple sweet potatoes work well in place of ube if needed and keep the color and flavor vibrant.

Is this suitable for gluten-free diets?

Absolutely! All ingredients are gluten-free. Double check packaged items if you're sensitive to cross-contamination.

How can I adjust spice levels?

Increase paprika or cumin for extra heat, or reduce cinnamon for less warmth. Taste and modify to your liking.

Are there vegan options available?

Omit the feta or use plant-based cheese for a fully vegan-friendly bowl filled with flavor and texture.

What grains can replace quinoa?

Brown rice, wild rice, or millet work as tasty alternatives for the base, offering different tastes and textures.

Can I prep ingredients ahead?

Yes, roast vegetables or prepare purée and crumble in advance. Assemble bowls just before serving for freshness.

Spiced Winter Bowls Fusion

Warm veggie bowls with quinoa, spiced roots, ube-coconut purée, and pistachio crunch. Satisfying and seasonal.

Prep duration
25 min
Cook duration
35 min
Complete duration
60 min
Created by Sarah Collins


Skill level Easy

Heritage Fusion

Output 4 Portions

Nutrition specifications Meat-free, No gluten

Components

Roasted Vegetables

01 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
02 2 cups sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
03 1 medium red onion, cut into wedges
04 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
07 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
09 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Grain Base

01 1 cup quinoa or brown rice, rinsed
02 2 cups water
03 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Ube-Coconut Purée

01 1 cup cooked ube (purple yam), mashed
02 1/3 cup coconut milk
03 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
04 Pinch kosher salt

Pistachio-Maple Crumble

01 1/2 cup shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
02 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
03 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
04 Pinch kosher salt

Fresh Toppings

01 1 cup baby spinach or kale, chopped
02 Seeds from 1 small pomegranate
03 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
04 Microgreens, for garnish (optional)

Directions

Phase 01

Preparation and Roasting of Vegetables: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, toss butternut squash, sweet potato, and red onion with olive oil, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Arrange vegetables in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, turning once midway, until vegetables are golden and fork-tender.

Phase 02

Cooking the Grain Base: While vegetables roast, combine quinoa and water with salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 18 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff using a fork and keep warm.

Phase 03

Preparing Ube-Coconut Purée: In a blender or food processor, combine mashed ube, coconut milk, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt. Blend until smooth, adjusting consistency with additional coconut milk as needed. Taste and adjust sweetness if desired.

Phase 04

Assembling Pistachio-Maple Crumble: Heat nonstick skillet over medium. Add chopped pistachios, maple syrup, ground cardamom, and a pinch of salt. Stir constantly for 2 to 3 minutes until pistachios become sticky and glossy. Transfer mixture onto parchment paper and let cool completely.

Phase 05

Building and Garnishing Bowls: Divide cooked quinoa evenly among four bowls. Top each bowl with roasted vegetables, a generous scoop of ube-coconut purée, and a sprinkle of pistachio-maple crumble. Add chopped greens, pomegranate seeds, and feta cheese if using. Garnish with microgreens. Serve immediately while warm.

Necessary tools

  • Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • Medium saucepan
  • Mixing bowls
  • Nonstick skillet
  • Blender or food processor

Allergy details

Review each component for potential allergens and seek professional healthcare advice if you're uncertain.
  • Contains tree nuts (pistachios) and dairy (feta, optional). Confirm all ingredients are gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.

Nutritional information (per portion)

These values are provided as a general guide only and aren't intended to replace professional medical guidance.
  • Energy: 410
  • Fats: 16 g
  • Carbohydrates: 59 g
  • Proteins: 9 g