Lemon Vinaigrette Grain Bowls (Printable view)

Fluffy grains, roasted chickpeas, crisp veggies, and zesty lemon vinaigrette combine for a fresh bowl.

# What You Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, 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

# How To Make:

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, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes or per package instructions. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Pat chickpeas dry with paper towels. In a bowl, toss chickpeas with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Spread evenly on prepared baking sheet. Roast for 20 to 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, 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. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Those roasted chickpeas hit different than store-bought versions and actually stay crunchy even hours later.
  • The lemon vinaigrette is bright enough to make you forget you're eating something genuinely good for you.
02 -
  • Drying those chickpeas thoroughly before roasting is the difference between crispy and steamed, and it takes thirty seconds but changes everything.
  • The vinaigrette tastes better when you make it a few minutes before serving, giving the flavors time to mingle and the mustard a chance to emulsify properly.
03 -
  • Shake the roasting pan halfway through cooking the chickpeas so they brown evenly and no one ends up with a sad undercooked one.
  • If you can't find smoked paprika, regular paprika works fine, but the smokiness adds a depth that feels like a secret ingredient.
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