Slightly embarrassed to admit this but for the past 2 weeks I have been grain bowl crazy. It all started when I tried the Baja Grain bowls from Panera. Shortly after, I got the silly idea to whip up a grain bowl at home. That was possibly the most genius idea I’ve had all week ( not proud of that but it’s the truth).
My cilantro-lime grain bowl is the perfect after-workout meal and is beyond easy to whip up. This dish is zesty, packed with fresh veggies, and will have you coming back for leftovers over and over again.
Grains used in Grain Bowls
This recipe calls for a mix of brown rice and quinoa. Of course, you can make your grain mix from scratch but I found that using 90-second microwavable grains was perfect for this quick dish. I used Simple Truth Organic 90 second microwavable Brown Rice and Quinoa mix.
Grain Bowl Toppings
I topped my grain bowl with a black bean and corn salsa, plain greek yogurt, grape tomatoes, avocados, salsa verde, and feta cheese. If you’ve never tried plain Greek yogurt as a topping, it kinda tastes like sour cream, seriously delish. I made my black bean and corn salsa from scratch using canned black beans and decorned grilled corn on the cob. Feel free to use canned corn on the cob if you want an easier alternative.
Please note that the measurements listed in the recipe are safe guidance for 6 servings. Feel free to add as little or as much as you’d like to your individual serving.
Can You Add Protein to Your Grain Bowl?
Of course, you can! Feel free to top your grain bowl with whatever meat you have on hand. This dish would go well with zesty seasoned chicken, steak, shrimp, or fish. I opted for thinly sliced baked chicken that I generously seasoned with garlic powder, chile-lime powder, lime juice, cilantro, and seasoning salt. Get as creative as you’d like with this dish.
Wine Pairing
My wine pairing recommendation? A nice chilled bottle of Verdejo. This Spanish and light-bodied white wine really complements the cilantro and lime of this dish. Verdejo is certainly a refreshing and crisp wine, perfect for a light dish like this grain bowl. The lime notes of the wine work harmoniously with the lime flavors of this dish.
Tried this recipe? Leave your reviews in the comments below! Had an amazing spread and want to share that with the ChewingwithChu audience? I would love to see your masterpiece! Share your photos on IG/ IGStory and mention @ChewingwithChu! I will be sure to share them on my page.
Ingredients
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Main Ingredients
- Seasonings/ Spices
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add cooked brown rice and quinoa mix, lime juice from half a lime, and fresh chopped cilantro. Stir and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add corn, black beans, seasonings, and lime juice from half a lime. Stir and set aside.
- Plate the grain mix in a small bowl. Top with desired amount of black bean and corn salsa, Greek yogurt, avocados, feta cheese, and grape tomatoes. Drizzle with salsa Verde and enjoy!
