Lentil Power Bowl (Printable)

Tender lentils served over grains with roasted vegetables and creamy tahini dressing for a satisfying plant-based meal.

# What You Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa or brown rice, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth

→ Lentils

03 - 1 cup green or brown lentils, rinsed
04 - 2.5 cups water
05 - 1 bay leaf
06 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

07 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
08 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
09 - 1 zucchini, sliced
10 - 1 red onion, sliced
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
13 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
14 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Tahini Dressing

15 - 0.25 cup tahini
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
17 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
18 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
19 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
20 - 0.5 teaspoon salt

→ Toppings

21 - 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
22 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

# How To Make:

01 - Set oven to 425°F (220°C).
02 - Combine sweet potato, bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion in a bowl. Toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and tender.
03 - In a saucepan, combine lentils, water, bay leaf, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes until lentils reach tender consistency. Drain excess water and remove bay leaf.
04 - Bring water or broth to a boil in a separate pot. Add quinoa or rice, reduce heat, cover, and cook according to package instructions, approximately 15-20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
05 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, water, maple syrup, minced garlic, and salt until smooth. Add additional water gradually until desired consistency is achieved.
06 - Divide cooked grains evenly among serving bowls. Layer cooked lentils and roasted vegetables on top. Drizzle with tahini dressing and garnish with pumpkin seeds and fresh parsley. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It's honestly the kind of meal that tastes indulgent but leaves you feeling clear-headed and energized, not weighed down.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes, which means you're not stuck in the kitchen when friends arrive.
  • The tahini dressing is so good you'll find yourself drizzling it on everything for the next week.
02 -
  • Don't rinse the lentils after cooking if you like a saucier bowl—that starchy water actually becomes a subtle sauce.
  • The tahini dressing thickens as it cools, so make it slightly looser than you think you want it.
  • Roast the vegetables first if you're making this ahead; they reheat beautifully and actually taste better the next day.
03 -
  • Make the tahini dressing up to three days ahead—it actually gets better as the flavors meld together.
  • If you're feeding a crowd, assemble the components separately and let people build their own bowls, which means everyone gets exactly what they want and there's less food waste.
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