Peanut Chickpea Rice Bowl (Printable)

Hearty brown rice bowl with protein-rich chickpeas, crunchy peanuts, and colorful vegetables in zesty peanut dressing.

# What You'll 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, 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, optional

→ Peanut Dressing

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

# How To:

01 - Rinse 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 to 35 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
02 - While rice cooks, 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.
06 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for a refreshing cold bowl later.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's a bowl that actually fills you up without that heavy sluggish feeling afterward.
  • Everything can be prepped the night before, which means morning you becomes evening you's favorite person.
  • The peanut dressing is so addictive you'll find yourself drizzling it on things that have no business tasting this good.
02 -
  • The dressing will thicken as it cools, so make it slightly thinner than you think you want it; your future self will thank you.
  • If your rice turns out mushy, it's not a failure; it just means it's better suited to being chilled and made into a cold bowl the next day.
03 -
  • Toast your chickpeas in a dry skillet with a pinch of smoked paprika for five minutes before adding them; it's a small step that makes people think you're a way better cook than you actually are.
  • Make double the dressing and keep it in a jar; you'll use it on salads, vegetables, grain bowls, and probably straight from a spoon when no one's looking.
Go Back