One of my favorite things about blogging has been being able to connect with and gain inspiration from others who share the same passion as I do. Gena was one of the first blogs I ever followed (back when her blog was still called Choosing Raw) and her blog was actually part of what helped me get started here on Sweet Simple Vegan. I am so flattered that she reached out to us to share about her brand new book and I can’t wait for you to try this recipe.
If you make this recipe, make sure you tag us on Instagram 
Description
A healthy, filling and flavor-packed meal that is perfect for lunch or dinner and is great to take on the go. Filled with tender cumin roasted carrots, lentils, a garam masala-infused vinaigrette, mint, greens and more!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. (680 g) carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
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2 tablespoons neutral vegetable oil
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1 tablespoon maple syrup
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1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
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Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, as desired
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1 cup (200 g) dried beluga or French green lentils, or 2 (15 oz, or 425g) cans lentils, drained and rinsed
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1/2 red onion, finely chopped
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2 cups (60 g) firmly packed baby arugula, mizuna, or baby kale*
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1/3 cup (13 g) chopped fresh mint leaves
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, pressed or finely grated
- 1 teaspoon minced or finely grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Optional toppings:
- Pomegranate molasses, toasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or pine nuts
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Put the carrots in a large bowl and drizzle them with the oil and maple syrup, sprinkle with the cumin and toss until evenly coated.
- Transfer the carrots to the lined baking sheet, spreading them in a single layer (you may need a second baking sheet) and season generously with coarse salt and pepper. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until the carrots are fork tender and browning. Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Meanwhile, cook the lentils. If you’re using canned lentils, you can skip this step. Add the lentils to a medium pot and cover them with 3-4 inches of water. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer until tender. Drain and rinse under cold running water, and then allow them to drain completely.
- Mix the carrots and lentils in a large bowl and allow them to cool for 10 minutes. Mix in the red onion, greens, and mint.
- To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup and whisk until evenly combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad as desired and top it with additional toppings of choice.
Notes
- We opted for curly kale as it is what we had on hand. We also steamed it before serving to make it more palatable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Entree, Salad, Lunch, Dinner
- Cuisine: Vegan
Keywords: Entree, Salad, Lunch, Dinner, Carrots, Lentils
I’d love to win this book,this looks delicious and I’m always looking for new recipes to feed my family!
I want to win the cookbook so my boyfriend and I can host and cook for our non vegan friends and show them some great vegan food!
I’m entering because I absolutely love u and Chris and her so much! You’re all such an inspiration and have influenced me in so many ways to make healthier decisions in life. I’m no longer restrictive and have learnt to become a lot more free because of YOU. I hope that winning a copy of this book will inspire me to make even better, healthier and nourishing choices with my food and enjoy my life to the fullest. Lots of love x
I want to enter the giveaway because I am an entrepreneur and will be starting my vegan personal chef business soon! I need all the recipe inspiration I can get!
I would LOVE to win this cookbook so that I can start incorporating more simple, whole food meals into my everyday life!
This recipe looks amazing and the book also! I love one dish meals, especially to take to parties!
This recipe looks amazing and the book also! I love one dish meals, especially to take to parties!
Hello! I became a vegan not too long ago, and I’ve been really enjoying finding new recipes and trying new foods! I would love this book, so I can continue to try new things and experience new foods and recipes!
I want to enter please. I would love the book because I’m just going vegan and love the idea of one dish meals.
This looks like a great dish! I’ve been a vegan for 2 years now and I’m always looking for new meal ideas. I would love to be entered in the giveaway.
I want this book because I am just embarking on a plant based journey and I think this could bring me lots of ideas!
I have been vegan for only a few months and have been having a great time making new dishes. I would love to have a copy so I can keep creating!!
★★★★★
I would love to enter the contest because 1, this recipe looks delicious and 2, I am always looking for healthy and sustaining meals to get me through the at. Thank you for sharing!
I would love to enter the give away! This dish looks delicious, and I can only imagine the rest of the recipes in the book are just as good! I also found Gena’s blog recently and really like her perspective ?
Can’t wait to try this recipe! I’d like to enter the cookbook giveaway…I’m slowly making the transition from vegetarian to vegan so I’m trying to increase my vegan cookbooks! This book sounds absolutely delectable! Fingers crossed that I win 🙂
This cookbook looks amazing and I’ve been eying it since it came out! I would love to win it! Also I can’t wait to try this recipe!!!!!!! Yum! I love kale and lentils!
I am brand new to plant based eating. I am in my second week of eating no animal products and I am struggling to come up with tasty meals or knowing what to eat and what foods pair well together. I would love the opportunity to have a cook book with so many delicious vegan recipes in it! I feel like I spend so much time that I don’t have looking up recipes and as a full time teacher, part time therapist, and a graduate student, the more time I can save the better!
I would love to win this cookbook! I have recently begun exploring veganism with my boyfriend who is vegan. This book woukd help us cook creative and delicious meals together!!
Ooooooh that looks amazing! I definitely would like to enter to win Power Plates because, similarly, I’ve also been following Gena since she was formerly known as Choosing Raw. In fact, she was one of the first vegan bloggers I ever discovered. Crossing my fingers!!!
Also, side note – I’ve been making your date sweetened banana bread almost every week now for about 1.5 months. Some weeks I keep the proportions but switch up the ingredients slightly with sweet potato/banana or carrot/banana, so good. 🙂
Ooooooh that looks amazing! I definitely would like to enter to win Power Plates because, similarly, I’ve also been following Gena since she was formerly known as Choosing Raw. In fact, she was one of the first vegan bloggers I ever discovered. Crossing my fingers!!!
Also, side note – I’ve been making your date sweetened banana bread almost every week now for about 1.5 months. Some weeks I keep the proportions but switch up the ingredients slightly with sweet potato/banana or carrot/banana, so good. 🙂
Hi I would love to enter!! I’ve been trying to be vegan all school year and I’ve been doing pretty good with the exception of eating salmon and some cheese every blue moon. I seem to be struggling with new recipes and I find myself eating the same things all the time. These types of recipes is something I really think I could benefit from! Thanks for reading!:)
I want this cookbook because I want new ideas for bowls that are delicious and different.
I’d love to win this cookbook! I’ve been wanting to buy it for a while cus I absolutely love her cooking style… all her food looks so comforting and delicious and I think it would really appeal to my non vegan husband as well :)?
I’d like to enter this cookbook giveaway because I’m trying my best to stick to a vegan diet and this cookbook would help me immensely! I find that I usually cook the same meals week to week and I don’t own a vegan cookbook yet! I also think it would help my boyfriend eat more vegan dishes!
Please enter me for the drawing for this amazing cookbook. I am always looking for easy to make recipes, especially one pot meals that I can prepare and take for lunch to work for a few days.
Love your blog and IG. Keep up the great work!
Hello! I’m entering the giveaway because you can never have too many yummy vegan recipes! I’m celebrating my 1 year vegan anniversary next month and I’m still learning new things about this lifestayle every day. A new, awesome recipe book will help me continue this amazing journey!
This looks amazing and I would LOVE to win this book. We are currently in the process of trying to simplify our vegan diet with more wholesome meals and I think this book would be perfect!
★★★★★
I want to enter the giveaway because I have had some health issues over the past couple of years. I’ve tried everything you could think of EXCEPT a plant based diet change. I’ve been trying to make more meals plant based but have totally run out of ideas. This would help me so much!
I love lentils, and I would love to win this book! I have Gina’s other book! I love what she does!
Gena
I would love a copy of power plates! I went vegan seven months ago and it was the best decision of my life! I need more recipes so I don’t get bored of the same stuff every day. I’m also from Portland and I’m so excited you are living there now and showing us all the cool vegan spots??
I would like to enter! I’m vegetarian right now, but I’m trying to find more vegan recipes that are flavorful and delicious, which is why I want this book. ?
I would love to be entered in this giveaway! We checked this book out at the library and keep renewing it. It is one I plan to add to my library, as we have some definite favorites (sweet potato bowls and Thai noodle bowls).
I want to enter in the giveaway! I would love the cookbook Power Plates because my family is starting to transition to a vegan lifestyle. Working, going to school, and being a mom of a 2 year old is crazy, so being able to have recipes for one-pot vegan meals would be so helpful on our families journey to a healthier life!
I would love to win this book because the recipes look really yummy! (enter me please!)
I love Gena’s first book. It’s my go-to resource. I’m sure I would love this one as well!
I have been following The Full Helping for quite a while. Her first vegan cookbook is terrific. I have gotten her new one from the library,, but would like to own it.
My husband and I have been teetering on becoming vegan. Much of our food is, some is not. He recently listened to a pod cast that has caused him to teeter even more. This cookbook would be a valuable resource.
My bowls only ever have a grain, a bean, and a veggie. Clearly I need help
Would love to win the cookbook because we love to follow you guys on this healthy adventure. All your recipes are so nutritious and healthy. Can’t wait to share the knowledge and recipes with others.
Thank you
Safura (Jax Vegan Couple)
I want this book because I’m trying to cook healthier meals for myself now that I”m pregnant!
I would love to try this cookbook! I checked out her blog and subscribed. I really like that she’s a nutritionist- all the recipes look so good! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I love your recipes and youtube channel, and would make good use of your cookbook if I were to win it!
This is such a great recipe to meal prep and take to school/work. I would love to enter the giveaway; thank you for this opportunity! Keep spreading veganism in a positive way 🙂
★★★★★
This recipe looks amazing. I would like this book because I love to cook new amazing recipes. I have been cooking recipes regularly from the Super Easy Vegan Slow-Cooker book and would like to learn other ways to prepare vegan foods!
Yes, I want to enter! I just LOVE plant based cookbooks and this one looks great. I am always looking for new and different ways to cook up–or eat raw–all of the plants that are available to us.
★★★★
This dish looks delicious! I would love to have this cookbook so I can make a bigger variety of dishes for my family that are healthy. We are desperately trying to be more WFPB and cut out the junk. Vegan junk food is just so good and my recipes are so limited! Thank you for this opportunity.
★★★★★
My wife would absolutely love this book – it would make a great gift for her birthday
I would love to win a copy of this book! I’ve been following along since Choosing Raw and I think this is her best work yet!
I want this cookbook because this looks delicious. I love Gena’s recipes because not only are they vegan and delicious but also healthy!
Too bad I didn’t see this when I was racking my brain for dinner ideas. I have all the ingredients, except I have lots of baby spinach. That would work, I think. Thanks for the chance. That lentil salad looks sooo good and I imagine that the rest of the book is just as good.
I would love to enter the contest. I would like to win the book to spice up my lunches!
Hi, my name is Hailey and I would LOVE to win your cookbook! The main reason why I would love to win the cookbook is because I am actually a vegan teen and the only vegan in my household, so things can get pretty tough as you can imagine. Winning this cookbook can help with being the only vegan in my family, help me to learn more about the different recipes I can make as a vegan, and inspire me to come up with my own recipes.
I would love to win this cookbook! I am vegan and a ballet dancer, so I am co Stanton looming for delicious vegan recipes that will fuel me for my long day of rehearsals. I have been wanting this cookbook for a long time because it has amazing, nutritious, meals that I would love to learn how to make.
I would love to win this cookbook because my husband was recently diagnosed with diabetes and I’m always looking for healthy vegan meals to serve him. Thank you for the chance.
Wow! Everything looks so amazing. I’m searching for ways to add protein s and fats to my 18 month old daughters’s diet. She needs to gain weight according to our medical professionals but we struggle keeping her interested in foods. She loves full bodied, spice enriched meals. And she goes crazy for lentils. I haven’t mastered catering to her pallet but I am determined to get a few go to, high fat recipes to chunk her up. Thanks for making vegan foods interesting!! I’d love a copy of this recipe book!
I want to win so I can cook meals just as tasty as the ones my Omni family are used to and convince them veganism isn’t all salad and kale
I became a vegan recently (6 months ago) and I’m loving having my kitchen as an experimental lab! And it’s been so important for me to discover new flavors that I like to help my in stick to the veggies!
Would love to have this book to keep improving my vegan culinary skills!
★★★★★
What a beautiful dish! I’m trying to focus on a wholefood diet I think this book would be a great inspiration??
Grateful to be learning from you. Rhank you for your generosity!
I would love to have this cookbook because I love your recipes so if you like this book it must be great!!!
I would love to enter- this recipe has all my favorites and I’d love to have more like it!
I would love to win this cookbook! I’m always looking for new nutritious recipes for myself and my family and with food intolerance’s, it’s always great to have new ideas. Thank you for the contest!
This giveaway is just what I need! I’m always testing new recipes, but I don’t always have internet access. It’d be awesome to have a cookbook full of delicious looking recipes such as this one to have on hand!
Would love to have this cookbook as I am just beginning my vegan journey!
I would love to have this book! I need more plant powered foods in my life and I have bee struggling to get enough.
i’d love to win this cookbook because i eat the same stuff a lot and want to try new cuisine. i’m young but want to open a vegan restaurant when i grow up so i need some inspiration to try new things!
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Please enter me to win the book because the recipes look delicious and healthy!
The recipe sounds amazing, as does the cookbook. I am grateful to have the chance to win a copy. Thank you for your hard work in creating these recipes.
That looks so delicious! And a full book of recipes like that?! I want it!
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Congrats Deborah, you are the winner! 🙂 We will email you shortly to get you your prize xo
I want to win because I need some fresh ideas for easy meals, especially to bring for lunch. I am a retail manager and often work 12+ hour days, I don’t want to spend hours cooking and then cleaning up!