Mediterranean Rice Bowl (Printable version)

Fluffy rice topped with fresh vegetables, chickpeas, olives, and creamy hummus drizzled with 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

# Directions:

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. Adjust consistency with additional water if needed.
03 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls, creating a base for each portion.
04 - Place cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and spinach in sections around the rice in each bowl for visual appeal.
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 -
  • You can prep all the vegetables while the rice cooks, making it surprisingly fast for such a beautiful meal
  • The combination of cool crisp vegetables, warm rice, and creamy dressing hits every perfect texture and temperature
  • It travels beautifully for lunch the next day, just pack the dressing separately
02 -
  • The tahini dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week and actually develops deeper flavor over time
  • If you make the rice ahead of time, warm it slightly before assembling so the temperature contrast remains
03 -
  • Let the chopped vegetables sit for 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to marry
  • Toast the chickpeas in a dry pan for 3 minutes to add a nutty crunch throughout the bowl

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