The Squash It! Bowl with Buckwheat Noodles and Sesame Dressing | Easy Vegan Recipes

For Wellness Wednesday with the Children’s Hospital Staff I made this adapted Blue Zones recipe. No meat or animal products and super healthy. 

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I also asked everyone in the group their favorite song as the best way to destress in these times. I got some awesome answers and creating my playlist now! My fav song I shared was Forca by Nelly Furtado. 

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I am sharing the recipe for this delicious, light bowl here, but I’m feeling retrospective today so want to share the meaning behind the name, Squash It! Bowl. 

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It’s more reminder to me to take inventory of the negative thoughts I think throughout the day. The same ones that stop me from living the fullest life. It’s a reminder to squash those thoughts and replace them with positive, grateful thoughts instead. The possibilities open up and fears start to fall to the side. Then a fuller life becomes the norm. 

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...That’s the chef's musings for today.

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Squash It! Bowl

Ingredients (Serves 2-3):

Squash

— Small delicata squash (kabocha or acorn)

— 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil

— 1 tsp. sesame oil

— 1 tsp. salt

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Noodles

— 8 oz. buckwheat noodles

— 2 scallions, thinly sliced

— 2 radishes, thinly sliced

— 1 carrot, thinly sliced

— 1 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds

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Sesame dressing

— ¼ cup fresh Orange juice (about 1 orange)

— 1 ½ Tablespoon soy sauce or tamarind

— 1 T tahini (or peanut butter)

— 1 tsp. sesame oil

— ½ tsp. honey

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Directions:

Toss sliced squash with oil and salt. (Can leave skin on for delicata, kabocha, or acorn) Roast squash in oven on a baking tray at 400 F for 30-40 minutes or golden brown. 

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Cook noodles according to package directions. Then, strain and rinse under cold water. Toss with a 1 tsp. sesame oil to prevent sticking. 

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Measure all dressing ingredients into a jar and shake up to bring ingredients together. Pour half of the dressing in the cooked noodles and toss. 

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Serve noodles in a bowl. Top with roasted squash, scallions, radishes, carrot, pumpkin seeds and the remaining dressing. Garnish with cilantro or mint if you have it. 

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More Blue Zones recipes: 

• Greek Island Lentil Salad | Longevity Diet
• Jose Guevara's Gallo Pinto | Costa Rican Rice and Beans
• Pantry-Style Street Noodles (Malaysia/Indonesia)
• Forever Young Minestrone Soup
• 5-ingredient Hummus

Adapted Blue zones recipe

Need cooking pointers?

Join the 'Cook to 100' program to learn more about plant-based cooking basics. Or check out 80% plant-based meal plans. 

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A post shared by Chef Joanna’s Kitchen (@chefjoannas) on Nov 4, 2020 at 3:26pm PST

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