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    Home > Recipe Index > Main Dishes > Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls with Green Tahini Sauce

    Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls with Green Tahini Sauce

    Published: Feb 20, 2019 · Modified: Apr 25, 2022 by Nicki Sizemore · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Close up of a Mediterranean quinoa bowl with tahini sauce.
    Close up of a Mediterranean quinoa bowl with tahini sauce.

    These Mediterranean quinoa bowls incorporate the flavors of falafel into an easy & healthy one-bowl meal. They're served with a luscious green tahini sauce. You can use quinoa or any whole grain you like, or you can omit the grains and use cauliflower rice or sliced romaine instead. Don't miss the step-by-step VIDEO below!

    Mediterranean quinoa bowl with green tahini sauce

    If you love the flavors of falafel, you're going to love these Mediterranean quinoa bowls. The recipe is quick and easy but loaded with flavor, and all of the components can be made ahead (perfect for meal prep!).

    Ingredients:

    • Chickpeas
    • Garlic, parsley and cilantro
    • Cumin and red pepper flakes
    • Tahini
    • Lemon juice
    • Honey or maple syrup
    • Quinoa (or other whole grains, or cauliflower crumbles)
    • Cucumbers, tomatoes and olives (or any veggies you like!)
    • Feta (optional)

    How to make Mediterranean quinoa bowls:

    To make things really easy, instead of chopping the herbs and garlic by hand, they’re blitzed up in seconds in the food processor. Half of the herbs stay in the processor for the tahini sauce (see below), and the other half go into the chickpeas. The chickpeas soak up all the garlicky goodness and taste even better with time.

    Bowl of marinated chickpeas for the Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls

    Green Tahini Sauce

    The creamy (but vegan) green tahini sauce ties everything together. It incorporates parsley and cilantro (which give it its hue), along with garlic, lemon juice, tahini and water. It’s creamy and rich, but dairy-free and nutritious.

    Process shot for making green tahini sauce in the food processor, divided into 4 quadrants.

    The green tahini sauce is also delicious over salads, pita sandwiches, fish and chicken.

    Overhead shot of green tahini sauce in the food processor.

    How to serve this recipe:

    To make bowls, pile the marinated chickpeas over cooked quinoa (or other grains), along with sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, olives and crumbled feta (optional). If you prefer, you can use other vegetables instead (cooked or raw), such as sugar snap peas, carrots, beets, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, butternut squash, red onion, etc. You can also ditch the bowls and pile everything into pita pockets or wraps instead, which is how my kids love to eat them!

    Overhead shot showing a hand grabbing the Mediterranean quinoa bowl

    Recipe variations:

    Vegan bowls

    For vegan bowls, simply omit the feta cheese. You can add cooked tofu if you'd like.

    Mediterranean quinoa bowls with chicken

    Add leftover cooked or shredded rotisserie chicken to these bowls for a boost of protein.

    Tips for this recipe:

    • You'll need a food processor or high-speed blender (such as a Vitamix) to make this recipe.
    • The green tahini sauce and marinated chickpeas get even better with time and can be made several days in advance!
    • I serve these easy healthy bowls with cooked quinoa, but feel free to swap out the grains for cooked cauliflower crumbles (also called cauliflower couscous) or romaine lettuce. OR, turn this into a sandwich by stuffing the chickpeas and veggies in pita bread and drizzling them with the sauce (that’s how my kids eat them).
    • Get creative! You can use any veggies you have or like! Sugar snap peas, shaved carrots, spiralized zucchini, roasted butternut squash, etc. Just go for a mix of different textures.
    • Check out my book Build-a-Bowl for a slew of other healthy one-bowl meal recipes!
    • If you love falafel, you’ve got to try these Pan-Fried Falafel Bowls, this 4-Ingredient Tahini Sauce and this Green Tahini Sauce!
    Overhead close-up of Mediterranean quinoa bowl.

    FAQs

    How do you make quinoa?

    In a pot, combine 1 cup of quinoa with 2 cups of water and season with salt. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook until the grains have started to unfurl and all of the water has been absorbed, 15-17 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes to steam.

    How much does 1 cup of dry quinoa make?

    1 cup of dry quinoa yields about 3 ½ cups of cooked quinoa. For this recipe, you'll only need 2 cups of cooked quinoa. Refrigerate or freeze the rest for power bowls, salads, stir-fries and soups.

    Can you freeze quinoa?

    Yes! Cooked quinoa can be frozen in an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag for up to 3 months. Defrost it in the fridge or at room temperature, then toss it into your favorite recipes (you can reheat it or eat it cold).

    *This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links to products I use and love (from which I earn income, at no cost to you). Thank you or supporting From Scratch Fast!

    Other recipes you might like:

    • Pan Fried Halloumi Salad with Green Tahini Dressing
    • Healthy Pan-Fried Falafel (Gluten Free & Easy!)
    • How to Perfectly Cook Salmon in the Slow Cooker (with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce)
    • Ultimate Steak Burrito Bowls with Avocado Crema

    Watch the Video!

    Stay connected

    I'd love to answer any of your questions and see what you're cooking!! Don't forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube & Pinterest, and be sure to tag @fromscratchfast so that I can share your creations!

    Get the recipe!

    Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl with fork
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    Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls with Green Tahini Sauce

    These Mediterranean quinoa bowls incorporate the vibrant flavors of falafel into an easy and healthy one-bowl meal. Instead of making falafel patties, the bowls get topped with quick marinated chickpeas. A creamy (but dairy-free) green tahini sauce ties everything together. The food processor makes quick work of chopping the herbs and garlic for the sauce and marinated chickpeas (you’ll chop them all at once, then reserve half for the chickpeas). Both the sauce and the chickpeas get even more delicious with age and can be made up to several days in advance (making them perfect for meal prep!).
    Prep Time25 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: easy grain bowl recipe, healthy grain bowl, mediterranean quinoa bowl
    Servings: 4 people
    Author: Nicki Sizemore

    Ingredients

    Green Tahini Sauce and Marinated Chickpeas

    • 3 garlic cloves
    • 1 cup lightly packed parsley leaves and tender stems
    • 1 cup lightly packed cilantro leaves and tender stems
    • ½ cup tahini
    • 1 teaspoon cumin, divided
    • ½ teaspoon Aleppo style pepper or 2 pinches red pepper flakes, divided
    • 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, divided
    • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • ½ cup water
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 15- ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

    For serving

    • 2 cups cooked quinoa
    • Diced or sliced cucumbers
    • Halved grape tomatoes
    • Pitted kalamata olives
    • Crumbled feta cheese

    Instructions

    Make the Green Tahini Sauce and Marinated Chickpeas

    • In a food processor with the blade running, drop the garlic cloves through the feed tube to chop. Add the parsley and cilantro, and process until finely chopped, stopping and scraping down the sides once or twice. Scrape about half of the garlic-herb mixture into a bowl (this will be for the chickpeas).
    • Reassemble the food processor (with the remaining herbs and garlic inside), and add the tahini, ½ teaspoon of the cumin, ¼ teaspoon of the Aleppo pepper (or 1 pinch red pepper flakes), 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice and the honey (use maple syrup for a vegan version). Season with salt and pepper. Process until the mixture starts to clump up around the bowl. Scrape the sides. With the motor running, slowly drizzle in the water, adding more to thin as needed (the sauce should be creamy and spoonable). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a bowl.
    • To the bowl with the reserved garlic and herbs, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon of cumin, ¼ teaspoon Aleppo style pepper and the olive oil. Stir in the chickpeas, and season well with salt and pepper.

    Assemble the Bowls

    • To serve, divide the quinoa among shallow serving bowls. Top with the marinated chickpeas (drizzle any leftover vinaigrette from the bottom of the bowl over the chickpeas). Arrange the cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and feta (if using) over top. Drizzle the bowls with the green tahini sauce, serving any remaining sauce at the table.

    Notes

    Do Ahead:
    • The green tahini sauce can be refrigerated for up to 5 days. Bring it to room temperature before serving (it will thicken as it cools). If needed, thin with a bit of water.
    • The marinated chickpeas can be refrigerated for up to five days. Bring to room temperature before serving. 
    Tips:
    • You'll need a food processor or high-speed blender (such as a Vitamix) to make this recipe.
    • The green tahini sauce and marinated chickpeas get even better with time and can be made several days in advance!
    • I serve these bowls over cooked quinoa, but feel free to swap out the grains for cooked cauliflower crumbles (also called cauliflower couscous) or romaine lettuce. OR, turn this into a sandwich by stuffing the chickpeas and veggies in pita bread and drizzling them with the sauce (that’s how my kids eat them).
    • Get creative! You can use any veggies you have or like! Sugar snap peas, shaved carrots, spiralized zucchini, roasted butternut squash, etc. Just go for a mix of different textures.
    • Check out my book Build-a-Bowl for a slew of other healthy one-bowl meal recipes!
    • If you love falafel, you’ve got to try these Pan-Fried Falafel Bowls and this 4-Ingredient Tahini Sauce!

    More Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes

    • Baked Butternut Squash Pasta Recipe with Ricotta & Sage
    • Easy Sausage Baked Pasta with Ricotta (One Skillet!)
    • Ultimate Whole Smoked Chicken Recipe (Traeger Smoked Chicken)
    • Juicy Yogurt Marinated Grilled Chicken

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jenny spencer says

      July 08, 2020 at 11:14 am

      We got it! Thank you so much. I can’t wait to make it.

      Raine 🙂

      Reply
    2. Jenn spencer says

      July 07, 2020 at 11:09 pm

      5 stars
      This was so GOOD!!!!! It was so easy and healthy. My family LOVED it.
      My parents lived in NYC for 25 years and my brother and I was born there. So, we are HUGE NY falafel fans and this reminded us of NYC'S falafel's! If you don't already have a falafel recipe on your blog, do you mind creating one? We would love that!

      Thank you for this recipe,

      Raine 🙂

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        July 08, 2020 at 9:57 am

        Hi Raine! My husband and I lived in NYC as well for several years, and falafel is one of our FAVORITE foods! I have a pan-fried falafel recipe on my blog here: https://fromscratchfast.com/pan-fried-falafel/ My very favorite falafel recipe is in my first book, The Food Processor Family Cookbook. I'll take a screenshot and send it to your mom!

        Reply
    3. Dallas says

      June 05, 2020 at 1:32 pm

      I made this for lunch and it was delicious!! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        June 06, 2020 at 8:56 am

        I'm so happy to hear you liked it!!

        Reply
    4. Linda says

      March 21, 2019 at 7:58 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this for dinner. Loved loved loved it!

      Reply
      • Nicki Sizemore says

        March 21, 2019 at 8:02 pm

        Yay! I'm so thrilled you liked it!

        Reply

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    Meet Nicki

    Headshot of Nicki Sizemore.

    Welcome! I’m Nicki Sizemore, a trained chef, recipe developer and cookbook author. My mission is to help you make wholesome & delicious food from scratch without spending hours in the kitchen. All of my recipes are naturally gluten-free.

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