Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

This Quinoa bowl is enriched with abundant plant-based protein, courtesy of quinoa and chickpeas. Prepare a batch of these flavorful grain bowls and store them in lidded containers for effortless access to nutritious grab-and-go lunches throughout the week.

Ingredients

1 (7 ounce) jar roasted red peppers, rinsed

¼ cup slivered almonds

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 small clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon ground cumin

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)

2 cups cooked quinoa

¼ cup Kalamata olives, chopped

¼ cup finely chopped red onion

1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed

1 cup diced cucumber

¼ cup crumbled feta cheese

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Directions

  1. Place peppers, almonds, 2 tablespoons oil, garlic, paprika, cumin and crushed red pepper (if using) in a mini food processor. Puree until fairly smooth.
  2. Combine quinoa, olives, red onion and the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a medium bowl.
  3. To serve, divide the quinoa mixture among 4 bowls and top with equal amounts of the chickpeas, cucumber and the red pepper sauce. Sprinkle with feta and parsley.

To Make Ahead: Prepare red pepper sauce (Step 1) and quinoa (Step 2); refrigerate in separate containers. Assemble just before serving.