Lentil Power Bowl (Printable Version)

Tender lentils and roasted vegetables over fluffy grains with creamy tahini dressing.

# 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 - Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
02 - Toss sweet potato, bell pepper, zucchini, and red onion with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until golden and tender.
03 - Combine lentils, water, bay leaf, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes until lentils are tender. Drain excess water and discard bay leaf.
04 - In a separate pot, bring 2 cups of water or broth to a boil. Add quinoa or rice, reduce heat, cover, and cook according to package instructions, approximately 15-20 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
05 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, water, maple syrup, garlic, and salt until smooth. Add extra water as needed to reach desired consistency.
06 - Divide grains among bowls. Top with cooked lentils and roasted vegetables. Drizzle with tahini dressing and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and parsley if desired. Serve warm.

# Cooking Tips:

01 -
  • It's a complete protein powerhouse that keeps you full way longer than you'd expect, and nobody has to know you snuck lentils into your favorite bowl.
  • Everything cooks simultaneously, so the chaos of dinner prep feels manageable instead of overwhelming.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when all those flavors have gotten cozy together.
02 -
  • Don't skip draining the lentils completely—excess water will make your bowl soupy and dilute all those flavors you worked to build.
  • The tahini dressing gets thicker as it sits, so make it slightly looser than you think you want it to account for this.
  • Roasting vegetables at a high enough temperature is the difference between tender and truly caramelized—don't be afraid of heat.
03 -
  • Toast your pumpkin seeds in a dry pan for 2-3 minutes before topping to unlock their flavor and add genuine crunch.
  • If your tahini seems grainy or won't smooth out, add just a tiny bit of warm water and whisk more aggressively—sometimes it needs a little coaxing.
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