Mediterranean Rice Bowl (Printable Version)
Vibrant bowl with fluffy rice, vegetables, hummus, and zesty lemon-tahini dressing.
# What You Need:
→ Rice Base
01 - 1 cup long-grain white or brown rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Fresh Vegetables
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
06 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely sliced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
→ Protein and Toppings
09 - 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
10 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
11 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
12 - 1/2 cup hummus
→ Lemon-Tahini Dressing
13 - 3 tablespoons tahini
14 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
17 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
18 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
19 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Garnish
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
21 - Lemon wedges
# How To Make:
01 - Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
02 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, water, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. Add additional water 1 teaspoon at a time if dressing is too thick.
03 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls as the base layer.
04 - Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and baby spinach in sections around the rice in each bowl.
05 - Scatter chickpeas, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese over the vegetables. Add a generous dollop of hummus to each bowl.
06 - Drizzle the lemon-tahini dressing over each bowl. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, but it tastes like you spent way more effort on it than you actually did
- The combination of cool crisp vegetables, warm fluffy rice, and that zesty dressing hits every texture and flavor craving in one bowl
02 -
- Tahini dressing thickens up as it sits, so always thin it out right before serving or you'll end up with a paste instead of a pourable sauce
- Room temperature rice absorbs the dressing better than piping hot rice, which can make the vegetables wilt too quickly
03 -
- Massaging your sliced red onion with a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon juice tames the harsh bite and makes them taste pickled
- Toast your chickpeas in the oven with a little olive oil and spices for 15 minutes if you want crispy croutons on top