Hi Reader,

As you probably know by now, I'm a big fan of doing a little bit of meal prep on the weekends to make my weekday and weeknight meals a bit easier.

Specifically, I like to prep individual components that can be used in lots of different ways throughout the week. Not only do they save time on cooking and enable me to eat a diverse diet, but they also make meals on busy days much more interesting than they otherwise would be.

And today I’ve got five brand new meal prep components that I’ve been loving lately, plus ideas for using them.

Make one or make several; your future self will thank you!

1. Tomato Confit​

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Olive oil-roasted cherry tomatoes transform into caramelized pearls concentrated with the sweet-umami essence of tomato and garlic! Make a batch and you'll find yourself using it in grain bowls, flatbreads, and toast, or as a sandwich spread or pasta sauce (stored properly, these last several weeks in the fridge!).

Read: Tomato Confit

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2. Roasted Pepitas (Roasted Pumpkin Seeds)

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If you've never tried roasted pepitas before, you're missing out. They're one of the easiest ways to add protein and healthy fats by the handful to salads, grain bowls, soups, and so much more.

More than that, they add a fun, healthy crunch that's often missing from home cooking. Ridiculously easy to prep, ridiculously snackable. Stays good in the pantry for 1-2 weeks.

Read: Roasted Pepitas

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3. Crispy Roasted Mushrooms​

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These are mushrooms for mushroom-haters (even my mushroom-hating partner Max can’t resist!). Another fantastic topping for soups, grain bowls, lettuce wraps, or noodle salads. Also SO good on my tofu scramble. Check out the FAQ for how to revive the crispiness on leftovers.

Read: Crispy Roasted Mushrooms

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4. Lemon Tahini Dressing​

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You'll often find this one hanging out in my fridge. Bright, zippy, creamy, and it couldn’t be easier to whip up—all you need is a jar or bowl! Works well with hearty greens (kale, cabbage), peppery greens (hello, arugula!), as well as crisp lettuces (romaine, little gem, butter lettuce).

Read: Lemon Tahini Dressing

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5. Miso-Sesame Dressing​

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This sweet-umami dressing adds razzle-dazzle dressing to even the simplest salads. True story: I once at half of an entire cabbage when I had this dressing.

Read: Miso-Sesame Dressing

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If you're interested in more meal prep-related content, just hit reply to let me know and I'll do a full email explaining how I approach meal prep each week!

xo,
​Nisha @rainbowplantlife​

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Let's be friends!