Lentil Grain Bowl (Printer-Friendly)
Protein-packed lentils and grains with fresh veggies and a zesty herbed dressing for a nourishing meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa, cooked (or brown rice or farro)
→ Lentils
02 - 1 cup green or brown lentils, cooked, drained and rinsed
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
05 - 1 cup baby spinach or kale
06 - 1 large carrot, shredded
07 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1 avocado, sliced (optional)
→ Herbed Lemon Dressing
09 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
13 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
14 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Toppings
15 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled (omit for vegan)
16 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped (parsley, cilantro or dill)
# How-To Steps:
01 - Prepare quinoa and lentils according to package directions if not using pre-cooked. Fluff with a fork and let cool slightly until warm but not steaming.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, chopped parsley, and minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
03 - Divide the cooked quinoa evenly among 4 serving bowls as the base. Layer lentils over the grains, then arrange cherry tomatoes, cucumber, baby spinach or kale, shredded carrot, and red onion evenly across each bowl.
04 - Drizzle the herbed lemon dressing generously over each bowl. Top with crumbled feta cheese, toasted seeds, additional fresh herbs, and sliced avocado if desired.
05 - Serve immediately at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days for a chilled version. For meal prep, store components separately and combine just before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You can prep everything ahead and assemble in under five minutes on busy days
- The herbed lemon dressing ties everything together into something that feels intentional instead of thrown together
02 -
- I learned the hard way that warm grains will wilt delicate greens into something sad and soggy, so let everything cool to room temperature before assembling
- The dressing tastes better after it sits for 10 minutes, so whisk it first and let it hang out while you prep the vegetables
03 -
- Toasting the seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes until fragrant completely transforms their flavor and is worth the extra step
- Mix the dressing directly into the grains instead of drizzling it on top if you are prepping these for lunch the next day