Description
A bright and fresh grain bowl packed with quinoa, chickpeas, avocado, and a zesty lemon dressing, perfect for a healthy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups water or low sodium vegetable broth
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- 1 medium cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh mint, optional
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
- A handful of toasted pumpkin seeds or almonds for crunch
- Optional: feta or goat cheese crumbles
Instructions
- In a small pot bring 2 cups water or broth to a boil. Add the rinsed quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
- While the quinoa rests, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Toss in pumpkin seeds or sliced almonds and toast for 2 to 4 minutes until fragrant. Set aside to cool.
- Whisk lemon zest and juice, olive oil, honey or maple syrup, Dijon, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Chop cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, parsley, and mint. Keep the avocado for last.
- For extra flavor, toss chickpeas into a hot skillet with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt. Sauté for 4 to 6 minutes until slightly crispy.
- In a large bowl combine quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, herbs, and most of the dressing. Toss gently to coat.
- Gently fold in avocado just before serving and sprinkle with toasted seeds and optional cheese. Drizzle any remaining dressing and season with more salt or lemon if needed.
Notes
Perfect for meal prep. Store components separately to keep everything fresh.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 9g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: grain bowl, healthy recipes, quinoa recipe, vegetarian bowl