Peanut Chickpea Rice Bowl (Printable Version)

Hearty bowl with brown rice, chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and zesty peanut dressing for a satisfying meal.

# What You Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup brown rice
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Legumes & Nuts

04 - 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
05 - 1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 cup shredded carrot
07 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
08 - 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber
09 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
10 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

→ Peanut Dressing

11 - 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
12 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
14 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
15 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
16 - 1-2 tablespoons warm water
17 - 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
18 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
19 - Pinch of chili flakes

# How-To Steps:

01 - Rinse brown rice under cold water. Combine rice, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30-35 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
02 - Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes in a small bowl. Add warm water gradually until the dressing reaches a pourable consistency.
03 - Shred the carrot and cabbage, thinly slice cucumber and scallions, and roughly chop cilantro.
04 - Divide the cooked rice among four bowls. Top each with chickpeas, peanuts, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, and scallions.
05 - Drizzle generously with peanut dressing. Garnish with cilantro and extra peanuts if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate for a refreshing cold bowl.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd expect, and tastes like you spent way more time than you actually did.
  • The peanut dressing is seriously addictive and makes even basic vegetables feel exciting.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble in minutes, making it perfect for meal prep or busy weeknights.
  • It's naturally vegan and packed with enough protein to keep you satisfied for hours.
02 -
  • The dressing consistency matters more than you think, too thick and it won't coat everything, too thin and it tastes watered down, so add that water gradually and taste as you go.
  • If you make this ahead and refrigerate it, the peanut dressing will thicken as it cools, so stir in a bit more water right before serving to get the consistency back.
03 -
  • Make the dressing the night before so the flavors have time to meld and deepen, and you're not rushing while the rice is still cooking.
  • Keep your peanut butter at room temperature so it whisks into the dressing smoothly instead of staying lumpy and stubborn.
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