Vegetable and Legume Bowl (Print Version)

Roasted seasonal vegetables and protein-packed legumes over fluffy grains with creamy tahini dressing.

# What to Use:

→ Grains

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

→ Legumes

04 - 1 cup cooked chickpeas or 1 can, drained and rinsed
05 - 1 cup cooked green or brown lentils

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 zucchini, sliced
08 - 1 small red onion, cut into wedges
09 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
10 - 2 cups broccoli florets
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnishes

15 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
16 - 1 avocado, sliced
17 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
18 - Lemon wedges

→ Dressing

19 - 2 tablespoons tahini
20 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
21 - 1 tablespoon water, plus more as needed
22 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
23 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How to Prepare:

01 - Set oven to 425°F and allow to reach temperature.
02 - In a medium saucepan, bring water or broth with salt to a boil. Add grains, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until tender (quinoa: 15 minutes, brown rice: 40 minutes, farro: 25 minutes). Fluff with a fork.
03 - Toss bell pepper, zucchini, onion, cherry tomatoes, and broccoli with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet in a single layer.
04 - Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until vegetables are tender with slight charring.
05 - Heat chickpeas and lentils in a small pan with a splash of olive oil, salt, and pepper for 2 to 3 minutes until warmed through.
06 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, water, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add additional water as needed to achieve drizzling consistency.
07 - Divide cooked grains evenly among four bowls. Top each with roasted vegetables and warmed legumes. Drizzle with tahini dressing.
08 - Garnish each bowl with fresh parsley, avocado slices, and toasted pumpkin seeds. Serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and somehow feels more impressive than the effort it actually took.
  • Everything stays fresh and flavorful even when you eat leftovers the next day, which almost never happens with my cooking.
  • You can swap nearly every ingredient based on what's in season or what your mood demands.
02 -
  • Don't skip the step of roasting vegetables at high heat—it's the difference between bland vegetable pieces and something with actual caramelization and depth.
  • Make your tahini dressing before you assemble the bowls, and taste it; it's easier to adjust when it's in a bowl than when it's already drizzled everywhere.
03 -
  • Cook extra grains and roasted vegetables on the weekend so you have them ready to mix and match throughout the week—this bowl becomes even easier when the heavy lifting is already done.
  • Don't skip toasting the pumpkin seeds yourself if you can; it takes five minutes and transforms them from forgettable to genuinely crave-worthy.
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