Spiced Winter Bowls Fusion

Featured in: Seasonal Fresh Picks

Enjoy warming bowls featuring roasted butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and red onion tossed in fragrant spices. Served over quinoa and finished with creamy ube-coconut purée and pistachio-maple crumble, each bowl is bursting with vibrant color and flavor. Spinach, pomegranate seeds, microgreens, and optional feta add freshness and texture. Easily adapt with plant-based cheese or swap in purple sweet potatoes. These cozy, nutrient-rich bowls satisfy on chilly days and can be customized with seasonal produce and extra protein such as chickpeas or lentils.

Updated on Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:57:00 GMT
Cozy spiced winter bowls filled with roasted vegetables and creamy ube-coconut purée.  Save
Cozy spiced winter bowls filled with roasted vegetables and creamy ube-coconut purée. | freshyforks.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 tried combining ube and coconut with roasted veggies on a snowy evening—the fusion of colors and flavors made a regular dinner feel festive and special.

Ingredients

  • Roasted Vegetables: 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed, 2 cups sweet potato, peeled and cubed, 1 red onion, cut into wedges, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Grain Base: 1 cup quinoa (or brown rice), rinsed, 2 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Ube&Coconut Purée: 1 cup cooked ube (purple yam), mashed, 1/3 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, Pinch of salt
  • Pistachio&Maple Crumble: 1/2 cup shelled pistachios, roughly chopped, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, Pinch of salt
  • Fresh Toppings: 1 cup baby spinach or kale, chopped, 1 small pomegranate, seeds only, 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional), Microgreens, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

Prepare Vegetables:
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, toss squash, sweet potato, and red onion with olive oil, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread on the baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 30–35 minutes, turning once, until golden and tender.
Cook Grain Base:
While vegetables roast, 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.
Prepare Pistachio&Maple Crumble:
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add pistachios, maple syrup, cardamom, and salt. Stir constantly for 2–3 minutes until pistachios are sticky and glossy. Spread on parchment to cool.
Assemble Bowls:
Divide quinoa into four bowls. Top with roasted vegetables, a generous dollop of ube&coconut purée, a sprinkle of pistachio&maple crumble, chopped greens, pomegranate seeds, and feta if using. Garnish with microgreens.
Serve:
Serve warm.
Nutrient-dense spiced winter bowls topped with pistachio-maple crumble and fresh greens.  Save
Nutrient-dense spiced winter bowls topped with pistachio-maple crumble and fresh greens. | freshyforks.com

My family loves building their own bowls at the table, choosing extra toppings and sharing stories. It&s become a winter tradition for us.

Required Tools

Baking sheet, parchment paper, medium saucepan, mixing bowls, nonstick skillet, blender or food processor (for purée)

Allergen Information

Contains tree nuts (pistachios) and dairy (feta, optional). Check all labels for gluten or cross&contamination if necessary.

Nutritional Information

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

Flavorful spiced winter bowls showcasing vibrant roasted veggies and pomegranate seeds. Save
Flavorful spiced winter bowls showcasing vibrant roasted veggies and pomegranate seeds. | freshyforks.com

These spiced winter bowls bring warmth and color to your table. Enjoy every bite and make each bowl your own.

Recipe Questions & Answers

Can I substitute ube in the purée?

Yes, you can replace ube with purple sweet potatoes or regular sweet potatoes for a similar taste and color.

Is this bowl suitable for vegans?

Omit the feta cheese or use plant-based feta for a fully vegan bowl without sacrificing flavor.

What grains work best for the base?

Quinoa offers a light texture and high protein, but brown rice or other grain blends can also be used.

How do I add more protein?

Roasted chickpeas or lentils can be added as toppings for extra protein and a hearty boost.

What wine pairs well with these bowls?

Try a dry Riesling to complement the warming spices, or serve with spiced chai tea for a non-alcoholic option.

Spiced Winter Bowls Fusion

Nourishing bowls with roasted squash, quinoa, ube-coconut, and vibrant toppings—easy, comforting, and customizable.

Prep time
25 minutes
Time to cook
35 minutes
Time required
60 minutes
Recipe by Freshyforks Lena Brooks


Skill level Easy

Cuisine Fusion Seasonal

Portions 4 Number of servings

Diet Details Meatless, No gluten

What You'll Need

Roasted Vegetables

01 2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
02 2 cups sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-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 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 canned coconut milk
03 1 tablespoon 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

Step 01

Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 02

Roast Vegetables: In a large mixing bowl, combine butternut squash, sweet potato, and red onion with olive oil, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 30–35 minutes, turning once, until golden brown and tender.

Step 03

Cook Grain Base: While vegetables are roasting, combine quinoa or brown rice, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15–18 minutes until water is absorbed and grains are tender. Fluff with a fork and set aside.

Step 04

Blend Ube-Coconut Purée: In a blender or food processor, blend mashed ube, coconut milk, maple syrup, and a pinch of salt until completely smooth. Adjust consistency with extra coconut milk and sweetness with additional syrup, if desired.

Step 05

Prepare Pistachio-Maple Crumble: Heat a nonstick skillet over medium. Add chopped pistachios, maple syrup, cardamom, and salt. Stir constantly for 2–3 minutes until pistachios are sticky and glossy. Transfer to parchment paper to cool and harden.

Step 06

Assemble Bowls: Divide cooked grains among four bowls. Top each with roasted vegetables, a generous spoonful of ube-coconut purée, a sprinkle of pistachio-maple crumble, chopped greens, pomegranate seeds, and feta cheese if desired. Garnish with microgreens.

Step 07

Serve: Serve immediately while warm.

Tools Needed

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

Allergy info

Review ingredients for allergens. Reach out to medical experts if you're not sure.
  • Contains tree nuts (pistachios).
  • Contains dairy if feta cheese is included.
  • Verify labels to ensure gluten-free status if required.

Nutritional breakdown (each serving)

This nutritional data guides only—don't treat as medical advice.
  • Energy (Calories): 410
  • Lipids: 16 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 59 grams
  • Proteins: 9 grams