Mediterranean Rice Bowl (Printable)
Fluffy rice paired with fresh vegetables, hummus, and tangy lemon-tahini dressing for a satisfying Mediterranean-inspired meal.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Rice Base
01 - 1 cup long-grain white or brown rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - ½ teaspoon salt
→ Fresh Vegetables
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
06 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
07 - ½ cup red onion, finely sliced
08 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
→ Protein & Toppings
09 - 1 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
10 - ½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
11 - ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
12 - ½ cup hummus
→ Lemon-Tahini Dressing
13 - 3 tablespoons tahini
14 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
17 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
18 - ¼ teaspoon salt
19 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Garnish
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
21 - Lemon wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15–20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
02 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, water, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. Adjust consistency with additional water if needed.
03 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and spinach around the rice in sections.
04 - Top each bowl with chickpeas, Kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and a generous dollop of hummus placed in the center.
05 - Drizzle the lemon-tahini dressing over each bowl. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You can prep everything ahead and assemble in under five minutes
- The flavors get even better as the dressing soaks into the rice
02 -
- The rice needs to be warm when you assemble the bowls, not piping hot or cold
- The tahini dressing thickens in the fridge, so thin it with a splash of water before using leftovers
03 -
- Slice vegetables while the rice cooks and you'll have everything ready in under thirty minutes
- Double the dressing recipe because you'll want to put it on everything