Peanut Chickpea Protein Bowl (Printable)

Protein-packed vegetarian bowl with roasted chickpeas, fresh vegetables, and creamy peanut sauce

# What You Need:

→ Chickpeas

01 - 2 cans (15 oz each) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables and Grains

08 - 2 cups cooked brown rice or quinoa
09 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
10 - 1 cup julienned carrots
11 - 1 cup sliced cucumber
12 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
13 - 1/2 cup cooked and shelled edamame
14 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Peanut Sauce

15 - 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
16 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
17 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
18 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
19 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili sauce
20 - 1 clove garlic, minced
21 - 2 to 4 tablespoons warm water

→ Toppings

22 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, chopped
23 - Lime wedges for serving
24 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - In a bowl, toss drained chickpeas with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on prepared baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and crisp.
03 - Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, maple syrup, rice vinegar, sriracha, minced garlic, and 2 tablespoons warm water. Add additional water as needed until sauce reaches smooth, pourable consistency.
04 - Cook brown rice or quinoa according to package directions if not already prepared. Slice and arrange all fresh vegetables on cutting board for assembly.
05 - Divide cooked grain evenly among 4 serving bowls. Layer roasted chickpeas, red cabbage, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, edamame, and cilantro on top of grain base.
06 - Drizzle peanut sauce generously over assembled bowls. Top with chopped roasted peanuts and sesame seeds. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It's genuinely satisfying without making you feel weighed down afterward.
  • The peanut sauce is so good you'll want to drizzle it on everything for days.
  • You can prep it in under an hour and feel like you cooked something restaurant-quality.
  • It's naturally vegetarian but so protein-packed that nobody misses the meat.
02 -
  • Don't skip the halfway shake of the chickpeas—they'll brown unevenly without it and some pieces will stay soft.
  • The peanut sauce thickens as it cools, so make it slightly thinner than you think you want it, because leftovers will become more like a spread than a drizzle.
03 -
  • If your peanut sauce breaks or separates, whisk in a splash more warm water and it should come back together—this happens sometimes and isn't a failure.
  • Squeeze fresh lime juice over your bowl right before eating; it brightens everything and makes you taste each component more clearly.
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