Vibrant Nourishing Bowl (Printable Version)

Nourishing bowl packed with grains, veggies, and creamy tahini dressing.

# List of Ingredients:

→ Grains Base

01 - 1 cup quinoa or brown rice, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water

→ Protein Options

03 - 14 oz firm tofu, pressed and cubed
04 - 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced

→ Fresh Vegetables

05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 cup shredded carrots
07 - 1 cup baby spinach
08 - 1 cup steamed broccoli florets
09 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
10 - 2 radishes, thinly sliced
11 - 2 tablespoons pickled red onions

→ Tahini Dressing

12 - 3 tablespoons tahini
13 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
14 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
15 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
16 - 2 tablespoons water
17 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
18 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnishes

19 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
20 - Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Cook quinoa or brown rice according to package directions using 2 cups water. Fluff with a fork once cooked and set aside to cool slightly.
02 - For tofu: Toss cubed tofu with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crispy. For chicken: Season sliced chicken with salt and pepper. Sauté in a skillet over medium heat with olive oil for 6-8 minutes until fully cooked through.
03 - While grains and protein cook, halve the cherry tomatoes, shred carrots, steam broccoli until tender-crisp, slice avocado into wedges, and thinly slice radishes.
04 - Combine tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, maple syrup (or honey), water, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk vigorously until completely smooth and creamy.
05 - Divide cooked grains evenly among 4 bowls. Arrange vegetables and protein in sections over the grains. Drizzle generously with tahini dressing.
06 - Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and fresh herbs over each bowl. Add pickled onions if desired. Serve immediately while vegetables are crisp.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything can be prepped ahead so weeknight lunches assemble in minutes
  • The tahini dressing somehow makes even raw vegetables taste irresistible
  • You can use whatever grains or veggies you have on hand and it still works
02 -
  • Warm grains absorb dressing better than cold ones, so try to time your assembly accordingly
  • The tahini dressing thickens as it sits, so keep a spoonful of water nearby to thin it at the last minute
  • Avocado oxidizes quickly, toss slices with a squeeze of lemon juice if prepping ahead
03 -
  • Mix a spoonful of Greek yogurt into the tahini dressing for extra creaminess and protein
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan until fragrant, it makes a huge difference
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