Wholesome Lentil Bowl (Printable Version)
Tender lentils, roasted veggies, greens, avocado, and tahini create a satisfying vegetarian bowl rich in protein.
# What You'll Need:
→ Lentils
01 - 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
02 - 3 cups water
03 - 1 bay leaf
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Roasted Vegetables
05 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 small red onion, sliced
08 - 2 cups broccoli florets
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
11 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Fresh & Greens
13 - 4 cups mixed greens (spinach, arugula, or kale)
14 - 1 avocado, sliced
15 - 1/4 cup toasted walnuts or pumpkin seeds
→ Tahini Dressing
16 - 1/4 cup tahini
17 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
18 - 2 tablespoons water
19 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
20 - 1 clove garlic, minced
21 - 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
22 - Salt and black pepper to taste
# How To Make:
01 - Combine lentils, water, and bay leaf in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes until lentils are tender but not mushy. Drain excess water, discard bay leaf, and season with salt.
02 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss carrots, bell pepper, onion, and broccoli with olive oil, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and tender.
03 - Whisk tahini, lemon juice, water, olive oil, garlic, maple syrup or honey, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl until smooth. Adjust water quantity to desired consistency.
04 - Distribute mixed greens into four bowls. Top each with cooked lentils, roasted vegetables, avocado slices, and toasted walnuts or pumpkin seeds.
05 - Drizzle tahini dressing generously over each bowl before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It's a complete meal in one bowl—protein from lentils, greens from fresh vegetables, and healthy fats from avocado and nuts, so you'll feel genuinely full.
- The tahini dressing is so creamy and rich that it feels indulgent, even though it's completely plant-based and comes together in under five minutes.
- You can prep everything ahead and assemble in minutes on busy weeknights, or serve it at room temperature for picnics and gatherings.
02 -
- Don't skip the step of tasting your lentils while they cook—the difference between perfectly tender and slightly mushy is just a few minutes, and no one wants a mushy lentil bowl.
- Room temperature is honestly better than hot for this bowl because every flavor becomes clearer and the textures hold their definition better, so feel free to make it ahead.
03 -
- Toast your own nuts and seeds if you can—five minutes in a dry skillet transforms them from ordinary to extraordinary, and that's where most of the flavor comes from.
- Make the tahini dressing thinner than you think you want it; it thickens slightly as it sits and coats the other ingredients beautifully.