Peanut Chickpea Rice Bowl (Printable)

Hearty brown rice and chickpeas with fresh 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 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 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

# Directions:

01 - Rinse brown rice under cold water. Combine rice, water, and salt in medium saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 to 35 minutes until tender. Remove from heat, let stand covered 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.
02 - Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and chili flakes in small bowl. Add warm water gradually until dressing reaches pourable consistency.
03 - Shred carrot and cabbage, thinly slice cucumber and scallions, and roughly chop cilantro if using.
04 - Divide cooked rice among four bowls. Top each with chickpeas, peanuts, carrot, cabbage, cucumber, and scallions.
05 - Drizzle generously with peanut dressing. Garnish with cilantro and extra peanuts if desired. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for refreshing cold bowl.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd think, making weeknight dinners feel less like a chore and more like self-care.
  • One bowl gives you everything—protein, healthy fats, crunch, and enough color to actually want to eat your vegetables.
  • The peanut dressing is the secret weapon that transforms ordinary ingredients into something you'll crave.
02 -
  • Warm water in the dressing is your friend—add it gradually so you don't accidentally create soup instead of dressing.
  • The longer this bowl sits in the dressing, the softer vegetables become, so if you're making ahead, keep dressing separate until you're ready to eat.
  • Roasting chickpeas with smoked paprika for five minutes before adding them changes everything—they become crispy and complex instead of just soft.
03 -
  • Cook rice in advance and store it in the fridge—it actually firms up and separates better when cold, making assembly even faster on busy days.
  • Toast your peanuts lightly in a dry pan right before serving if they've been sitting in a container for a while; five minutes brings back that fresh-roasted flavor.
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