Roasted Red Pepper Chickpea Quinoa Bowl

Ingredients

Serving Ingredient Notes
1 can Chickpeas Drained and rinsed
1/2 can Black olives Sliced (adjust to taste)
1 Zucchini Optional, roasted and chopped
1/2 jar Roasted red peppers or pimentos Drained
1/4 cup Slivered almonds For sauce and texture
1/4 cup Feta Crumbled (optional; omit for vegan)
2 tbsp Chopped parsley Optional garnish
1 bag (or 1 cup dry) Quinoa or 7-grain rice Cooked according to package
2-4 tbsp Olive oil Divided (for roasting and dressing)
1 tsp Paprika For chickpeas and sauce
1 tsp Chili powder or crushed red pepper For chickpeas
1/2 tsp Ground cumin For sauce
1 tsp Garlic (minced or powder) For sauce and chickpeas
To taste Salt & black pepper  

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil.
  2. Prepare the grain: cook quinoa or your chosen grain according to package directions and keep warm.
  3. Prepare the chickpeas: in a bowl toss the drained chickpeas with 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, chili powder (or crushed red pepper), salt and pepper until evenly coated.
  4. If using zucchini, chop into bite-sized pieces and add to the chickpeas on the baking sheet. Spread in a single layer.
  5. Roast the chickpeas (and zucchini, if using) for about 18 minutes, stirring once halfway, until chickpeas are crisp and zucchini is browned.
  6. Make the roasted red pepper sauce: in a blender combine the drained roasted red peppers (or pimentos), slivered almonds, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic (minced or 1/2 tsp powder), 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, a dash of crushed red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until mostly smooth, adding a splash of water if needed to reach desired consistency.
  7. Assemble the bowls: divide the cooked quinoa or rice between bowls. Top with roasted chickpeas and zucchini, spoon over the roasted red pepper sauce, then add black olives, crumbled feta (if using), and chopped parsley.
  8. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil or lemon juice if desired and serve warm.