Bowled over

Have you noticed that food bowls are having a moment? At catered events, food outlets and on the internet, you can find a plethora of sushi bowls, chicken bowls, poke bowls... the list could go on.

When I first heard of them, I felt a bit intimidated - it sounded very fancy. However, to my mind, all that a bowl comprises seems to be a mixture of different foods arranged very nicely in a bowl. This is perfect for the current lockdown situation, because when faced with a fridge full of seemingly unconnected food items, I just chop them up and arrange them nicely and voilà ..... a bowl!

This salmon bowl evolved because I had two portions of salmon in the freezer (not enough for my family), some quinoa, mushrooms, salad leaves, a random selection of vegetables and a small amount of frozen green beans. I was wondering what to make for dinner and decided to prepare the lot, arrange it beautifully, and everyone just tucked in!

This bowl has all the elements of a nutritionally balanced meal with protein and healthy fats provided by the salmon and pumpkin seeds, complex carbohydrates and fibre from the quinoa and abundant vegetables, which also provide a range of vitamins and minerals.

With lockdown set to continue, I foresee a whole range of bowls emerging from my kitchen in the next few weeks.