Peanut Chickpea Rice Bowl (Printable)

Hearty brown rice bowl with chickpeas, peanuts, and colorful vegetables topped with zesty peanut dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

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

→ Legumes & Nuts

04 - 1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
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 tbsp creamy peanut butter
12 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
13 - 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey
14 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar or lime juice
15 - 1 tsp sesame oil
16 - 1-2 tbsp warm water
17 - 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
18 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
19 - Pinch of chili flakes

# How To Make It:

01 - Rinse the brown rice under cold water. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, water, and salt. 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 if using.
04 - Divide the cooked rice among four bowls. Top each with chickpeas, peanuts, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, and scallions.
05 - Drizzle generously with the peanut dressing. Garnish with cilantro and extra peanuts, if desired. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for a refreshing cold bowl later.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour but tastes like something from a fancy bowl place that charges fifteen dollars
  • The peanut dressing is thick and creamy enough that you will want to put it on everything else in your life
  • You can prep all the components ahead and assemble in minutes for weekday lunches that actually make you happy
02 -
  • The dressing thickens as it sits, so add that warm water gradually even if it looks thin at first
  • Warm rice absorbs the dressing better than cold rice, so try to time it right
03 -
  • Toast your peanuts in a dry pan for two minutes before adding them to the bowl
  • Double the dressing and keep it in your refrigerator for salads and roasted vegetables all week
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