Mediterranean Rice Bowl Hummus (Printable Version)
Fluffy rice paired with fresh vegetables, chickpeas, olives, and tangy lemon-tahini dressing for a wholesome 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
18 - ¼ teaspoon salt
19 - ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Garnish
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
21 - Lemon wedges
# Directions:
01 - Combine rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff gently with a fork before serving.
02 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, water, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. Add additional water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if dressing is too thick. Set aside at room temperature.
03 - Halve the cherry tomatoes. Dice cucumber and red bell pepper into uniform ½-inch pieces. Slice red onion into thin half-moons. Wash and dry baby spinach or mixed greens thoroughly.
04 - Divide the cooked rice evenly among four serving bowls. Arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, and spinach in sections around the rice. Top with drained chickpeas, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese.
05 - Add a generous dollop of hummus to each bowl. Drizzle with the lemon-tahini dressing. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything comes together in under 40 minutes with barely any active cooking time
- You can prep all the vegetables while the rice simmers away peacefully on the stove
- The combination of creamy hummus and zesty tahini dressing makes every bite feel luxurious
02 -
- The dressing thickens as it sits, so add more water right before serving if needed
- Room temperature vegetables taste better here than cold ones straight from the fridge
- These bowls keep well for up to two days, but add the greens and dressing just before eating
03 -
- Chop all your vegetables into similarly sized pieces for the best eating experience
- Make double the dressing and keep it in a jar for salads all week long