Mediterranean Grain Bowl Feta (Printable)

A nourishing bowl of grains, roasted chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and tangy feta for a healthy meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa or brown rice, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth
03 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Chickpeas

04 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt
10 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Fresh Vegetables

11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
13 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
15 - ¼ cup kalamata olives, sliced

→ Toppings

16 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
18 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
19 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
20 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine quinoa or brown rice with water or vegetable broth and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until grains are tender and liquid is absorbed (quinoa: 15 minutes; brown rice: 30 to 35 minutes). Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Pat chickpeas dry and toss with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through, until chickpeas are crispy.
03 - While chickpeas roast, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, thinly slice red onion, and slice kalamata olives. Set aside baby spinach or mixed greens.
04 - Divide cooked grains among four bowls. Top each with spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, roasted chickpeas, and crumbled feta cheese.
05 - Drizzle bowls with extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Garnish with chopped parsley and additional freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like a restaurant dish but comes together with pantry staples and whatever fresh veggies you have on hand.
  • The roasted chickpeas get so crispy and flavorful, you might eat half the batch before they even make it to the bowl.
  • It keeps you full for hours without feeling heavy, and leftovers taste just as vibrant the next day.
02 -
  • If your chickpeas aren't getting crispy, they're probably still too wet. Dry them thoroughly and make sure they're in a single layer with space between them.
  • Don't skip the lemon juice at the end. It wakes up every flavor and makes the whole bowl taste fresher and brighter.
03 -
  • Toast your grains in the dry pot for a minute before adding liquid. It deepens the flavor and makes them fluffier.
  • Toss the greens with a tiny bit of lemon juice first so they're lightly dressed before you build the rest of the bowl.
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