Pizza Bowl

For the Kale and Sausages:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 8 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, plus a pinch
• 4 vegan sausages, if you are not vegan and want to use real italian sausage….go for it.
• 1 bunch kale, about 8 ounces, tough stems removed and torn into large pieces (I’ve also made this recipe with spinach, and it is just as tasty.)

For the Sauce:

• 1/2 cup cashews, soaked in water for least 2 hours (or, if you forget, boil them for 15 minutes, and let them sit in the water while you prepare everything else)
• 2 cloves garlic peeled
• 3 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 roasted red pepper (homemade, or store-bought)
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For Serving:

• 4 cups cooked brown rice
• 1/2 cup black olives
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves (or dried)
• Crushed red pepper flakes

Prepare the Sauce First:

Add all of the sauce ingredients to a blender and puree until completely smooth. Depending on your blender, this can take anywhere from 1 to minutes. Scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula to make sure you get everything.

Now Prepare Sausages and Kale:

Preheat a large skillet over low heat and add 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Sautee the sliced garlic cloves until just lightly browned, which should take about a minute. Transfer garlic to a plate.

Turn up the heat to medium. Add 2 more teaspoons of olive oil. Sautee the red onion along with a pinch of salt. When the onion is translucent, add the sausages and 2 more teaspoons of olive oil. Lightly brown the sausages.

Now add the kale and remaining 1/4 teaspoon of salt. You’ll need to add the kale in batches most likely, so toss it in by the handful, letting it cook down for 2 minutes or so before adding the next handful. (Add a splash of water to the pan if anything starts to stick.) Once all the kale has been added and cooked down, add the garlic back in.

To Assemble:

Scoop rice into bowls. Top with kale and sausages. Drizzle with a generous amount of sauce. Top with olives and red pepper flakes. Enj