I was recently treated to dinner at Souk in Long Street in Cape Town. It’s a decadently decorated gastropub that offers a simple tapas menu, but the food is interesting, fresh and totally delicious. They have a section for “Souk Bowls”, their own creation made up of a selection of fresh veggies and grilled seafood, beef or chicken, with a choice of couscous, quinoa, leaves or rice. It’s such a simple concept, but it looks beautiful and tastes divine, so I decided to put it to the test at home! It’s a great option for a light veggie meal, or you can add some meaty bits to it. I used what I had in the house, but the options are endless!
Summer Veggie Souk Bowl
You will need:
- A selection of fresh fruit and veggies. I used red and yellow peppers, cucumber, corn, red onion and mango.
- Grain of your choice – I chose quinoa which adds a beautiful nuttiness to the dish and packs a lot of protein!
- Salad leaves
- A sprinkle of fresh herbs
- Soy sauce
Method:
Step 1: Cook your choice of grain as per the instructions on the packaging.
Step 2: Thinly slice the veggies, or cube them into bite-sized chunks. You can keep them raw, or quickly fry them in a bit of olive or coconut oil. I fried the corn but kept everything else as is.
PRO TIP: to take the bite out of the sliced onion, put it in a bowl and pour some boiling water on it. Then remove from the water after a couple of minutes and drain. Allow to cool before using.
Step 3: Plate by placing the grain in the centre of a deep dish or bowl, and place all the veggies in little groups around it. Garnish with freshly chopped herbs, and add a small bowl of soya sauce. You can add some toasted sesame seeds as well for a bit of crunch!
That’s it – it is so simple, but it is absolutely delicious!
Happy eating!
2 responses
If you use sweet corn, it’s delicious raw!!
Thanks Ele, great idea!!