- October 22, 2022
- Modified On: September 22, 2022
- by Amy Gorin, MS, RDN
- 2 Comments
Vegetarian Rice Bowl with Chickpeas
This vegetarian rice bowl comes together in mere minutes. It uses several freezer and pantry staples you may already have on hand!
Your answer for a quick, healthy meal: a Mediterranean vegetarian rice bowl! Throw together this easy power bowl with your toppings of choice, and you’ll have a nutritious meal in no time at all.
This vegetarian protein bowl is gluten free so it is sure to work for anyone in your household.
Ingredients
Ready for a protein-packed meal that’s ready in minutes? I bet you already have some of the ingredients for this vegetarian rice dish in your kitchen. This vegetarian power meal is filled with satiating fiber, too.
You only need a few ingredients to make a vegetarian rice bowl:
Brown rice: You can totally cheat and use the microwaveable kind! You can sub in any type of rice.
Tomatoes and frozen okra: You can swap the okra for broccoli or green beans. Really, any combo of veggies works in a vegetarian bowl!
Canned chickpeas and black olives: Feel free to swap in whatever beans you have. Try pinto beans or white beans instead of chickpeas—or even jarred lupini beans.
Feta: This adds protein to the recipe.
I’m lucky that I have the luxury of working from home. But whereas I used to run out during lunchtime to grab a salad when I worked in an office, I now cook my lunches in my own kitchen.
So that means I need fueling recipes that will be ready in minutes. Enter this okra and chickpeas bowl!
Here are additional toppings you can add to a veggie bowl:
- black beans
- red onions
- tomatoes
- cucumbers
- bell peppers
- roasted sweet potato slices
- roasted veggies
- sunflower seeds
- sesame seeds
- salt and pepper
- hot sauce
- lemon juice
Step-by-step instructions
This vegetarian power bowl is such a quick, easy meal that’s packed with protein and fiber. Plus, each serving is only 245 calories.
To make the vegetarian rice bowl, divide rice, okra,
chickpeas,
tomatoes, and black olives among four bowls. Top each bowl with feta cheese,
and drizzle with olive oil. Season with black pepper.
If you don’t work from home like I do, you can whip up a batch of these easy vegetarian rice bowls in advance to use for lunches and weeknight dinners!
FAQ
Rice bowls are full of healthy ingredients that can help with weight loss. This vegetarian rice bowl features chickpeas and veggies, so it is protein packed and also filled with satiating fiber.
Eating foods rich in protein and fiber can help reduce your overall calorie intake. Including vegetarian rice bowls in a healthy, balanced diet may help with your weight loss goals.
There are so many different vegetables that go well with rice. In fact, you could argue that any vegetable could be served with it––rice has a mild flavor that pairs well with lots of foods.
Some examples of vegetables that go with rice are broccoli, carrots, peas, corn, green beans, cauliflower, zucchini, leafy greens, mushrooms, snow peas, okra, and tomatoes. In this vegetarian rice bowl recipe, the featured veggies are okra and tomatoes.
You can use any type of rice that you like for rice bowls, or you can use a combination of both white and brown rice.
White rice is lower in fiber and protein than brown rice. If you end up using white rice, you can make up for the loss fiber by adding veggies or a legume like chickpeas.
Brown rice is a whole grain, which is why it is higher in fiber compared to white rice. Some people prefer the nutty flavor of brown rice when paired with veggies.
More plant-based bean recipes
I love using pulses like chickpeas, beans, and lentils as ingredients. They provide protein and fiber and are so filling.
If you enjoy this vegetarian rice bowl, you’ll also like:
- Healthy Roasted Chickpeas
- White Bean Pizza
- Sweet Cranberry & Apple Lentils
- Vegetarian Lentils
- Lupini Bean Salad
- Chickpea Cookie Dough
Vegetarian Rice Bowl with Chickpeas
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked brown rice
- 2 cups frozen cut okra, defrosted
- 1 15.5 ounce can no-salt-added chickpeas, drained, rinsed, and heated
- 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- ½ cup crumbled feta cheese or vegan feta
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Divide rice, okra, chickpeas, tomatoes, and black olives among four bowls.
- Top each bowl with feta cheese, and drizzle with olive oil. Season with black pepper.
Nutrition
Let me know how you’re enjoying this vegetarian rice bowl!
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I love that this uses things I already have in my fridge and freezer. Thank you!
That’s the goal! Thanks so much for giving it a try.