Lentil Grain Bowl (Printable Version)

Protein-packed lentils and grains with fresh vegetables and a zesty herbed dressing for a wholesome meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains & Lentils

01 - 1 cup cooked quinoa (or brown rice or farro)
02 - 1 cup cooked green or brown lentils, 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 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 1 avocado, sliced (optional)

→ Lemon-Herb Dressing

09 - 3 tbsp olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
11 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
13 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
14 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Toppings

15 - ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (omit for vegan)
16 - 2 tbsp toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds
17 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, or dill)

# How to Make It:

01 - Prepare the quinoa and lentils according to package directions if not using pre-cooked. Let cool slightly until warm or at room temperature.
02 - In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, chopped parsley, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Whisk until fully emulsified and smooth.
03 - Divide the cooked grains among 4 serving bowls as the base. Layer each evenly with lentils, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, spinach or kale, shredded carrot, and sliced red onion.
04 - Drizzle each bowl generously with the prepared dressing. Top with crumbled feta, toasted seeds, 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 grain bowl. For meal prep, store components separately and combine just before serving.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • It forgives you completely if you swap, omit, or eyeball every single component.
  • The dressing alone is worth making just to have on hand for everything else you cook this week.
02 -
  • Do not dress the bowls if you plan to store them because the greens will wilt into a soggy mess within hours.
  • Toasting the seeds is a small step that makes an enormous difference in texture and should never be skipped.
03 -
  • Cook a double batch of lentils and freeze half in their cooking liquid because they thaw perfectly and save you twenty minutes next time.
  • The dressing tastes best if you make it first and let it sit while you prepare everything else, which gives the garlic time to mellow into the oil.

Go Back