Mediterranean Grain Bowl Roasted Chickpeas (Printable)

A vibrant bowl featuring grains, roasted chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and tangy feta for a wholesome dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup uncooked quinoa or brown rice
02 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth
03 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Chickpeas

04 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
05 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
09 - ¼ teaspoon salt
10 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Fresh Vegetables

11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
13 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
15 - ¼ cup kalamata olives, sliced

→ Toppings

16 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
18 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
19 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
20 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine quinoa or brown rice with water or vegetable broth and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until grains are tender and liquid is absorbed (quinoa: 15 minutes; brown rice: 30 to 35 minutes). Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Pat chickpeas dry, toss with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through, until crisp.
03 - Halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber, thinly slice red onion, and slice kalamata olives. Set aside baby spinach or mixed greens.
04 - Divide cooked grains among four bowls. Top each serving with baby spinach or mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, roasted chickpeas, and crumbled feta cheese.
05 - Drizzle each bowl with extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Garnish with chopped parsley and freshly ground black pepper. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything comes together in under an hour, and you can prep the chickpeas and grains ahead if life gets busy.
  • The textures are what make it—crispy, creamy, crunchy, and tender all in one bowl.
  • It's flexible enough to use whatever vegetables you have lingering in the fridge without losing its charm.
02 -
  • If your chickpeas aren't getting crispy, they're too wet—take an extra minute to dry them thoroughly and it'll make all the difference.
  • Don't skip the lemon juice at the end, it wakes up every other flavor and keeps the bowl from tasting flat.
  • Warm grains and cold vegetables create the perfect temperature contrast, so don't let the grains cool completely before assembling.
03 -
  • Taste your feta before adding it—some brands are much saltier than others, and you might want to go lighter on the salt in the chickpeas.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, set out all the components separately and let everyone build their own bowl—it's more fun and accommodates different tastes easily.
  • Don't toss everything together ahead of time or the greens will wilt and the chickpeas will soften—assembly is best done right before serving.
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