Mediterranean Rice Bowl (Print Page)
Fluffy rice loaded with fresh veggies, spiced chickpeas, feta, and a bright lemon dressing.
# What You Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup basmati or jasmine rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 medium cucumber, diced
06 - 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or arugula
→ Protein and Cheese
09 - 1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained
10 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
→ Dressing
13 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Fresh Herbs
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
18 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill or mint, chopped (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Rinse rice under cold running water until it runs clear. Combine rice, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until water is fully absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff gently with a fork.
02 - Toss drained chickpeas with smoked paprika and ground cumin in a small bowl. For deeper flavor, sauté in a skillet with a splash of olive oil over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes until warmed and fragrant.
03 - Whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until well emulsified. Set aside.
04 - Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, thinly slice the red onion, and slice the Kalamata olives. Wash and dry the spinach or arugula.
05 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four bowls. Arrange spinach or arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, and seasoned chickpeas over each portion of rice. Drizzle generously with the lemon dressing. Top with crumbled feta and chopped fresh herbs.
06 - Serve immediately at room temperature for the best flavor and texture.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together with almost zero cooking and pantry staples you probably already have sitting around.
- The lemon garlic dressing pulls every single ingredient together into something that tastes far more effortful than it actually is.
02 -
- Do not skip rinsing the rice or you will end up with a gummy clump instead of distinct fluffy grains that soak up the dressing properly.
- Letting the rice rest covered off the heat for five minutes before fluffing is the difference between good rice and great rice.
03 -
- Make double the dressing and keep the extra in a jar in the fridge for salads, roasted vegetables, or dipping bread throughout the week.
- Warming the chickpeas in the skillet with their spices for even just two minutes releases oils that make them taste deeply toasted and complex compared to cold chickpeas straight from the can.