Peanut Chickpea Rice Bowl (Printable Version)

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

# 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 (or 1 can, 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 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
12 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use 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 - 1-2 tablespoons warm water
17 - 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
18 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
19 - Pinch of chili flakes

# Step-by-Step Directions:

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 Advice:

01 -
  • The peanut dressing creates this rich, restaurant quality flavor in minutes but comes together faster than takeout delivery
  • You get that perfect combination of warm fluffy rice, cool crisp vegetables, and crunchy protein in every single bite
02 -
  • The dressing thickens up in the fridge, so always add another splash of warm water before using leftovers to bring it back to life
  • If your peanut butter has separated, give the jar a serious stir before measuring or your dressing will turn out oddly oily and thin
03 -
  • Toast your peanuts in a dry pan for 2 minutes before adding them to the bowl, the extra depth of flavor is absolutely worth the extra step
  • Let the assembled bowls sit for 5 minutes before eating so the dressing has time to work its way into all the nooks and crannies
Go Back