Mediterranean Rice Bowl (Printable Version)
Fluffy rice meets crisp vegetables, creamy hummus, and zesty lemon-tahini dressing in this vibrant Mediterranean-inspired bowl.
# 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:
01 - Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 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. Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and spinach in sections around the rice.
04 - Top each bowl with chickpeas, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and a generous dollop of hummus.
05 - Drizzle the lemon-tahini dressing over each bowl. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything gets prepped ahead so you can assemble these bowls in under five minutes when hunger strikes
- The tahini dressing is the kind of thing youll want to drizzle on absolutely everything
02 -
- The tahini dressing will look thick and separated at first but keep whisking and it will suddenly come together into something creamy and gorgeous
- Room temperature vegetables taste so much better here than cold ones straight from the refrigerator
03 -
- Make double the dressing and keep it in a jar in the refrigerator for quick salads all week
- Warm the rice slightly before assembling if youve meal prepped it ahead