The Perfect Salad Bowl

Make ahead: Rinse and soak the beans in cold water overnight.

Drain the beans, rinse them again, and add to a large pot. Cover with water by about 2-3 inches. Add the onion, garlic, bay leaf, and any other aromatics you might enjoy, such as thyme or parsley, carrot, celery. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat to low, and cook until the beans are plump and cooked through, about 1 hour. Cool the beans in their cooking liquid. Salt to taste. Strain from the liquid and set aside.

While the beans cook, make the tempeh. In a small bowl, mix together two tablespoons olive oil with the paprika, chipotle powder, cumin, and sea salt. Toss with the tempeh to coat thoroughly.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add the tempeh and cook without stirring for about 3 minutes, so they can begin to brown nicely. Toss, and continue to cook until they’re browned on a couple sides, about 5-7 minutes more. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Break each ear of corn in half. Stand lengthwise on a cutting board, and using a sharp knife, slice the kernels from the ear. Set aside.

In a small mason jar, add the garlic, the lime juice and zest, the honey, and the coriander seeds (if using) and whisk with a fork. Add the olive oil in a stream, continuing to whisk. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Store covered, and shake vigorously before serving.

Divide the kale equally into each bowl. Add 1/4 of the corn to each, followed by 1/4 of the cherry tomatoes, 1/4 of the tempeh, 1/4 of the green onions, and 1/2 cup of the cooked pinto beans. Finish with 1 tablespoon of toasted sunflower seeds.