Chickpea Grain Bowl with Avocado Lemon Tahini Dressing
A recipe for a satisfying, plant-based grain bowl featuring seasoned chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and a creamy avocado lemon tahini dressing.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 2 servings
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Baking and Assembling
- Cuisine: Mediterranean Inspired
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup quinoa or brown rice
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups mixed greens or spinach
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- For the Dressing: 1 ripe avocado
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water (or more for desired consistency)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Cook the grain according to package directions. If using quinoa, rinse it first. Set aside once cooked.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss the drained chickpeas with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper on a baking sheet.
- Roast the chickpeas for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through, until they are slightly crisp.
- While the chickpeas roast, prepare the dressing. Combine the avocado, tahini, lemon juice, water, minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and salt in a food processor or high-speed blender. Blend until completely smooth, adding more water one teaspoon at a time until you reach a creamy, pourable consistency.
- Assemble the bowls. Divide the cooked grain among serving bowls.
- Arrange the mixed greens, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and shredded carrots over the grain.
- Top each bowl with the roasted chickpeas and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
- Drizzle generously with the avocado lemon tahini dressing before serving.
Notes
- For softer chickpeas, you can skip roasting and simply warm them in a skillet with the spices.
- If you do not have a food processor for the dressing, mash the avocado very well before whisking in the remaining dressing ingredients.
- This bowl works well for meal prep; store the dressing separately from the assembled bowls to prevent sogginess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 30
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 70
- Fiber: 15
- Protein: 22
- Cholesterol: 0
