Mediterranean Rice Bowl (Print Version)
Fluffy rice with fresh vegetables, hummus, and lemon-tahini dressing. A nourishing 40-minute meal for four.
# 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 Steps:
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 15-20 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, spreading it across the bottom of each bowl.
04 - Place cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and baby spinach in sections around the rice in each bowl for a colorful 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 Tips:
01 -
- The lemon tahini dressing alone will become something you want to put on everything from roasted vegetables to sandwiches.
- It comes together in under an hour but looks like something you would order at a cafe.
02 -
- The dressing thickens as it sits, so whisk in more water right before serving if you made it ahead.
- Salt the rice water well since the grains absorb flavor better during cooking than after.
03 -
- Let the rice cool to room temperature before assembling so the vegetables stay crisp and the feta does not melt into a puddle.
- Taste your olives before adding salt to the dressing, some brands are significantly saltier than others.