Mediterranean Rice Bowl (Printable)
Fluffy rice with fresh vegetables, chickpeas, olives, feta, hummus, and zesty lemon-tahini dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Rice Base
01 - 1 cup long-grain white or brown rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
→ Fresh Vegetables
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
06 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
07 - ½ cup red onion, finely sliced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
→ Protein & Toppings
09 - 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
10 - ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
11 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
12 - ½ 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 - ¼ teaspoon salt
19 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Garnish
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
21 - Lemon wedges
# How to Make It:
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, fluff with a fork, and set aside.
02 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, water, salt, and black 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, creating a bed for the vegetables and toppings.
04 - Place cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and baby spinach in sections around the rice in each bowl for an appealing presentation.
05 - Top each bowl with chickpeas, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and a generous dollop of hummus.
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 -
- Its the kind of meal that makes you feel nourished from the inside out, like a warm hug in bowl form
- You can prep everything in advance and assemble in minutes for the easiest weekday lunch imaginable
- The dressing alone will become your new obsession for everything from salads to roasted vegetables
02 -
- Tahini dressing can seize up and turn into a thick paste if you add water too quickly, so whisk vigorously and add liquid gradually
- The rice should be slightly cooled before assembling, otherwise the spinach will wilt too much and lose its fresh appeal
03 -
- Warm your hummus slightly for about 20 seconds before adding it to the bowl, creating this incredible temperature contrast with the cool vegetables
- Toast a handful of pine nuts or pumpkin seeds and sprinkle them on top for crunch that takes these bowls to restaurant level