Lemon Vinaigrette Grain Bowls (Printable)

Fluffy grains topped with roasted chickpeas, fresh veggies, and bright lemon vinaigrette in a balanced bowl.

# What You Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, uncooked
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
21 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
22 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
23 - 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

# How-To:

01 - Set oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a saucepan, combine quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Pat dried chickpeas with a clean towel. In a bowl, toss chickpeas with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
04 - Spread coated chickpeas in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes, shaking the sheet halfway through, until golden and crispy. Cool slightly before serving.
05 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
06 - Divide cooked quinoa evenly among four bowls. Arrange roasted chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, red onion, avocado slices, and fresh parsley on top of each bowl.
07 - Drizzle each bowl generously with lemon vinaigrette. Serve immediately while chickpeas are still warm and crispy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Those roasted chickpeas get crispy and golden in a way that makes you forget you're eating something healthy.
  • It's endlessly customizable depending on what's in your fridge and what your body is craving that day.
  • One bowl keeps you satisfied for hours, making it perfect for actual lunch breaks instead of 3 p.m. snack spirals.
02 -
  • Dry those chickpeas thoroughly before roasting or you'll end up with steamed, soft chickpeas instead of the crispy golden ones that make this bowl actually special.
  • The lemon vinaigrette is what ties everything together—don't be shy with it, and make sure to whisk it well so the oil and lemon actually emulsify instead of separating on the bowl.
03 -
  • If you're meal-prepping, keep the avocado and vinaigrette separate until you're ready to eat, or everything will taste like sadness by Wednesday.
  • Warm grains and room-temperature everything else create this perfect texture situation that cold bowls just don't hit the same way.
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