There’s nothing like a hearty grain bowl filled with vegetables, grains, and beans. It hits all the points and makes for such a delicious and filling dinner. This particular bowl has some of my favorites (roasted sweet potatoes! farro!) with a bit of kick from the berbere spice.

Berbere and alternatives

Berbere is a delightful spice blend that originated in Ethiopia. The main spices are chilis, warming spices, and cumin/coriander, which results in a warm and spicy flavor. If you’re looking for something with a similar impact, but without the rice, I’d recommend trying this bowl with the ras el hanout blend.

Farro

Farro is one grain that tends to stay in whole-form in my cooking. The slightly warm and nutty wheat berry is perfect for salads, stews, and bakes. It keeps a slightly chewy texture but soaks up flavors of everything around it. You can also crack farro- I use this technique for whole-grain morning porridges or making a farro risotto. Cracking adds a bit of extra creaminess without any additional ingredients!

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Berbere Sweet Potato Farro Bowls

2 large servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Farro

• ½ cup farro
• 1 1/4 cup water 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt

Sweet Potatoes

• 1 large sweet potato
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
• 2 to 3 teaspoons berbere (See note)
• Salt (if needed)
• 1 can chickpeas

Yogurt

• ½ cup yogurt (plain- I’m using sheep)
• 2 cups loosely packed mixed cilantro and parsley
• Zest from half a lemon
• Pinch of Salt

1. To start, heat the oven to 425˚F and place farro in a pot along with 1 cup water, salt, and oil. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until tender; about 30 to 40 minutes.
2. While the farro is cooking, make the sweet potatoes. Scrub the potatoes well and cut into rough ½” cubes. Place on a sheet tray covered with parchment and add the berbere spice, 1 tablespoon oil, and a pinch of salt. Place in the oven and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are tender and just starting to brown.
3. Remove the sweet potatoes and stir in the chickpeas. Cook for another 10 minutes, until the chickpeas are hot. 
4. Next, place the cilantro and parsley and on a cutting board and top with the lemon zest. Chop until everything is fine and mixed together. Combine half the herb mixture with the yogurt and a pinch of salt.
5. Once the sweet potatoes are done, remove from the oven and toss with the remaining herb mixture and remaining tablespoon of oil.
6. Assemble the bowls with a swirl of yogurt, half the farro, and half the sweet potatoes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time :45 minutes minutes

Disclosure: This recipe was created in partnership with Bob's Red Mill. All thoughts and opinions are my own. It’s content like this that helps me keep this site running to provide the vegetarian recipes you see every week.