Lemon Vinaigrette Grain Bowls (Printable Version)

A nutritious bowl with grains, roasted chickpeas, crisp vegetables, and a tangy lemon dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa or brown rice or farro
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Chickpeas

04 - 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
05 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
06 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
08 - 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables and Toppings

11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
13 - 1/2 cup shredded carrots
14 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 1 avocado, sliced
16 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Lemon Vinaigrette

17 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
19 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
20 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
21 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
22 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
23 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

# Step-by-Step Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a saucepan, combine quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes or according to package instructions. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Pat chickpeas dry with paper towels. In a bowl, toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Spread evenly on baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and crispy. Cool slightly.
04 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
05 - Divide cooked grains evenly among four bowls. Top each with roasted chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, red onion, avocado slices, and fresh parsley.
06 - Drizzle each bowl generously with lemon vinaigrette and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The roasted chickpeas get shatteringly crispy, giving you that satisfying crunch in every spoonful.
  • It comes together in under an hour and works beautifully for meal prep or quick weeknight dinners.
  • The lemon vinaigrette is so bright and punchy that it makes even the plainest vegetables taste like something special.
02 -
  • Those chickpeas only stay crispy for a few hours after roasting, so make them close to serving time unless you don't mind them getting a little softer—it's not a disaster, just different.
  • Don't dress the whole bowl ahead of time; the grains and vegetables will get soggy if they sit with the vinaigrette for more than a few minutes.
03 -
  • If you're serving a crowd, assemble the base of each bowl ahead of time but keep the dressing separate and let people drizzle it themselves—they'll feel like they're customizing their meal.
  • Soaking your red onions in a bit of lemon juice for five minutes before adding them mellows their sharpness and adds another layer of brightness to the whole bowl.
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