Mediterranean Rice Bowl (Printable)
Fluffy rice meets crisp vegetables, creamy hummus, and tangy lemon-tahini dressing in this colorful Mediterranean bowl.
# What You 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 (omit for vegan option)
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
# Steps:
01 - Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 15–20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff gently with a fork.
02 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, water, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. Adjust consistency by adding additional water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until dressing reaches desired pourable thickness.
03 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and spinach in sections around the rice, creating a colorful presentation.
04 - Top each bowl with chickpeas, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and a generous dollop of hummus placed in the center.
05 - Drizzle the lemon-tahini dressing evenly over each bowl. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything tastes better when you can drizzle that lemon tahini magic all over it
- The colors alone will make your phone camera work overtime
02 -
- Cold rice toppings and warm rice base creates this perfect temperature contrast that makes the whole bowl feel more special
- The dressing thickens as it sits so keep a little extra water handy to thin it out again
03 -
- Warm the hummus for thirty seconds before adding it to the bowl and it will spread like a dream
- Toast the rice in olive oil for two minutes before adding the water and each grain will taste more nutty and distinct