Grain and Lentil Bowl Party Idea
Grain Bowls are the way forward when friends and family have differing dietary needs. I find it easier to deconstruct a meal and make the food interactive, especially when you have mixed generational dining. This style of meal allows everyone to add or omit what they can and cannot eat, in incognito mode.
When people come to our house for a meal they have traveled for at least an hour and some an hour and a half, and the least I can do is offer them a plate of food they will enjoy.
This menu was devised when I recently hosted wonderful friends. I had to accommodate the following dietary requirements: gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian but ideally vegan, carb-free, no spice, no avocados, no pears but they happily ate fish. I had a 20-year-old and a 24-year-old visiting. I consider their presence an honor, for that generation to carve our time to be with us is so special, so I wanted to make it fun and memorable for them too.
My wonderful friend said to serve a salad, but they just wanted to be in our company, and they weren’t coming for the food. However, they had to travel for 1 1/2 hours to get to us, so it didn’t feel right, to open a few bags of salad leaves and top it with a protein. Our weather is mild, but autumnal so I took the bones of her request and elaborated the idea with this Grain and Lentil Bowl Party Idea. I used lentils and grains as the base to make your bowl and topped it with a ped salmon for those eating fish.
In essence, I decided to update and marry the 1970s salad bar with a trendy to-eat grain bowl. The idea is that the ingredients are selected by each person, dressed or eaten naked, warmed through or eaten at room temperature, and each person curates their meal.
The ingredients fall into four categories: the base, I used lentil and or grains (I had a non-lentil eater hence the two options), the vegetables and protein, and then the fun toppers and dressings. You can choose one ingredient from each column and serve that to friends. If you need inspiration on what to add to host a Grain and Lentil Bowl Party, the second table gives you more ideas for each category.
This is what I offered my guests for our Grain and Lentil Bowl Party:
| Main Ingredients | Vegetables : Fry, Grill or Roast | Protein | Toppers | Dressings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinoa | Courgette | Roasted Salmon | Charred Peppers | Pomegranate Dressing |
| Lentils | Aubergine | Cress | Olive Oil & Red Wine Vinegar | |
| Sweet Potato | Cranberries | Mango Coriander and Spring onion Salsa | ||
| Charred Corn | Pumpkin Seeds | Lemon Juice | ||
| Broccoli | Crispy Kale | Pomegranate Dressing | ||
| Leeks | Pomegranate Seeds | Chopped Coriander | ||
| Courgette | Shredded Cabbage | Chopped Pasley | ||
| Aubergine | Grated Carrot | Olive Oil & Vinegar | ||
| Sweet Potato | Cucumber | Chopped mint | ||
| Charred Corn | Feta |
You can roast, grill, or fry the vegetables the day before and store them separately in tubs in the fridge.
Adding different sauces and toppings is a fun and easy way to add choice and offer different cuisines at the same table. One person can add soya or satay sauce and the person next to them can add a vinaigrette or have a naked bowl.
Below is a table of 20 different ideas for a Grain and Lentil Bowl Party you can pick and choose one from each column, for a midweek meal and increase the offering if you are feeding a crowd.
| Grain or Lentils | Ingredients to Fry or Roast | Protein | Toppers | Sauces or Dressings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinoa | Sweet potatoes | Grilled chicken | Avocado | Lemon-Tahini Dressing |
| Brown rice | Courgettes | Roasted chickpeas | Roasted Nuts | Soy-Ginger Dressing |
| Lentils | Mushrooms | Feta cheese | Pomegranate Seeds | Balsamic Vinaigrette |
| Farro | Cauliflower | Tofu | Crispy Chickpeas | Garlic Yogurt Sauce |
| Barley | Carrots | Egg | Sunflower Seeds | Tahini-Lemon Dressing |
| Chickpeas | Eggplant | Grilled salmon | Cranberries | Cumin-Lime Dressing |
| Bulgur | Peppers | Roast beef | Pumpkin Seeds | Olive Oil & Lemon |
| Black rice | Red onion | Chicken breast | Shredded Coconut | Peanut Sauce |
| Red lentils | Broccoli | Tempeh | Toasted Sesame Seeds | Curry Yogurt Dressing |
| White rice | Asparagus | Shredded chicken | Crispy Fried Onions | Sriracha Mayo |
| Green lentils | Brussels sprouts | Grilled shrimp | Shredded Carrot | Dijon Mustard Dressing |
| Freekeh | Butternut squash | Minced Meat | Radish Slices | Lemon-Tahini Sauce |
| Wild rice | Beetroot | Grilled lamb | Fresh Herbs | Vinaigrette |
| Split peas | Kale | Seared tuna | Cheese Feta Parmesan | Avocado-Cilantro Dressing |
| Oats (savory) | Spinach | Ground turkey | Olives | Miso-Tahini Sauce |
| Millet | Tomatoes | Grilled tofu | Kimchi | Chimichurri |
| Buckwheat | Green beans | Roast duck | Crispy Kale | Sesame-Ginger Dressing |
| Amaranth | Cabbage | Pulled pork | Cress | Spicy Harissa Dressing |
| Teff | Okra | Seitan | Rocket | Garlic-Parsley Sauce |
| Couscous | Pak Choi | Grilled sausage | Pepper Dried Flakes or Freshly Chopped | Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette |
This can be a wonderful Pot-Luck idea, Book Club, or family get-together meal. Have fun it is a great way to entertain. Especially if you have a big crowd, everyone can bring a bowl and you can get creative.
Enjoy your next Grain and Lentil Bowl Party Menu.
