Description
A nutritious and delicious quinoa chickpea bowl featuring fresh vegetables and a creamy tahini dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 1 block (14 ounces) firm tofu (or 1 cup cubed feta cheese)
- 2 handfuls fresh baby spinach
- 1 large avocado
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup sliced cucumber
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Start by cooking your quinoa if you don’t have some already prepped. Use a two-to-one ratio of water to dry quinoa. Bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for 15 minutes.
- Once the water is absorbed, remove the pot from the heat and let it sit with the lid on for five minutes. Fluff it with a fork.
- If you are using tofu, press it between paper towels for ten minutes to remove excess moisture. Cut it into small cubes and toss them in a little soy sauce and olive oil. If you prefer cheese, cube some fresh feta or halloumi.
- For the chickpeas, pat them very dry—moisture is the enemy of crunch. Toss the chickpeas with a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt.
- Place the tofu and chickpeas on a baking sheet. Roast them at 400°F for about 20 minutes. You want the chickpeas to be slightly popping and the tofu to have golden, crispy edges.
- If you are using halloumi cheese instead of tofu, you can pan-fry the slices in a dry skillet for two minutes per side until they develop a beautiful brown crust.
- While the proteins are roasting, make your tahini dressing. In a small jar, combine the tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, and a splash of warm water. Whisk it vigorously until it becomes a smooth, pourable consistency.
- Divide the fresh baby spinach between two large bowls. Place a generous scoop of the warm quinoa on top of the spinach.
- Arrange the shredded carrots, cucumber slices, and avocado in separate sections around the edges of the bowl. Add your roasted chickpeas and tofu (or cheese) to the center. Drizzle the tahini dressing over everything in a zigzag pattern.
- Finally, sprinkle the pumpkin seeds over the top for one last layer of crunch.
Notes
- This bowl is versatile; feel free to add other vegetables or toppings of your choice.
- The tahini dressing can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Roasting, Mixing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 15g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 0mg