Spring Green Bowl (Printer-friendly)

Fresh spring vegetables over wholesome grains with tangy lemon dressing

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, brown rice, or farro
02 - 2 cups water
03 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Spring Vegetables

04 - 1 cup fresh or frozen green peas
05 - 1 cup asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
06 - 1 cup green beans, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
07 - 2 cups baby spinach leaves

→ Lemon Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
10 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
13 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Optional Toppings

15 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
16 - ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese, omit for vegan
17 - Fresh herbs such as mint, parsley, or dill, chopped

# How to Make It:

01 - Rinse grains under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil. Add grains, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until tender, approximately 15 minutes for quinoa, 35 minutes for brown rice, or as package directs. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch peas, asparagus, and green beans separately for 2 to 3 minutes each, until just tender and bright green. Immediately transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking, then drain well.
03 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until just wilted. Remove from heat.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, mustard, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
05 - Divide cooked grains among four bowls. Top each with blanched peas, asparagus, green beans, and sautéed spinach. Drizzle with lemon dressing.
06 - Sprinkle with toasted seeds, crumbled feta if using, and fresh herbs. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in less than an hour, which means weeknight dinners stop feeling like a chore.
  • Every bite tastes fresh and alive without being fussy or pretentious about it.
  • You can customize nearly everything based on what's actually in your fridge and what you're craving that day.
02 -
  • Ice water is non-negotiable after blanching—it stops the cooking immediately and keeps your vegetables from turning drab olive-green in a matter of minutes.
  • Taste the dressing before you pour it over everything; it should make you want to drink it straight from the bowl, because that's how you know it's right.
03 -
  • Toasting your own seeds takes five minutes in a dry skillet and makes them taste like they actually belong in the bowl instead of like an afterthought.
  • Keep the components warm when you're assembling—a warm bowl with cool vegetables and warm dressing tastes infinitely better than everything at the same temperature.
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