Winter Harvest Vegan Casserole (Printable)

A nourishing vegan casserole featuring hearty winter vegetables and savory plant-based ingredients.

# List of ingredients:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 4 cups)
02 - 2 large carrots, sliced (about 1 cup)
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 2 cups kale, chopped

→ Legumes and Grains

05 - 1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed
06 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Liquids

07 - 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Seasonings

09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - Peel and cube the butternut squash, slice carrots, dice the onion, and chop the kale. Mince the garlic cloves.
02 - In a medium saucepan, bring vegetable broth to a boil. Add rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cooking until translucent. Stir in butternut squash and carrots, sauté for 8 minutes until slightly tender.
04 - Add cooked quinoa, chickpeas, kale, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until kale wilts and all ingredients are warmed through, about 5 minutes.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Transfer mixture to a baking dish and bake uncovered for 20 minutes to meld flavors.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of dish that gets better as it sits in your fridge, making weeknight dinners feel effortless
  • One dish means less cleanup when you're already tired from the cold weather
  • You can build it from whatever vegetables you have on hand, so it always feels fresh
  • It feeds a crowd without requiring you to stand at the stove all day
02 -
  • Cook your mushrooms first before adding other vegetables—they release water that needs to evaporate, or your whole casserole becomes watery
  • The nutritional yeast is what transforms this from a nice vegetable dish into something that feels complete and satisfying, almost savory in a way that surprises people
  • Don't skip the resting time at the end—I learned this the hard way when I started cutting too early and ended up with a runny mess
03 -
  • Make a double batch and freeze one for nights when you need dinner to feel like comfort without the work
  • Add a handful of toasted nuts or seeds on top in the last 5 minutes of baking for a textural surprise that makes people think you planned something fancy

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