Save to Pinterest Vibrant grain bowls featuring bold, globally inspired sauces like miso-butter and gochujang-maple, paired with roasted vegetables and protein for a satisfying, customizable meal. These bowls are flavorful and packed with nutrients, perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
I discovered the magic of sauce drizzle bowls while experimenting with international flavors in my own kitchen. Combining different sauces with roasted veggies and grains led to a dinner everyone looked forward to each week!
Ingredients
- Grains: 1 cup brown rice or quinoa, uncooked; 2 cups water or vegetable broth
- Roasted Vegetables: 2 cups broccoli florets; 1 large sweet potato, diced; 1 red bell pepper, sliced; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Protein: 1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/4 tsp salt
- Miso-Butter Sauce: 2 tbsp unsalted butter (or vegan butter); 1 tbsp white miso paste; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 2 tsp maple syrup; 1 tsp sesame oil
- Gochujang-Maple Sauce: 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean chili paste); 1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- Toppings: 2 green onions, thinly sliced; 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds; 1/2 cup pickled red onions (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Cook the grains:
- Rinse brown rice or quinoa and combine with water or broth in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until tender (about 20- 25 minutes for rice, 15 minutes for quinoa). Fluff with a fork.
- Roast the vegetables:
- Toss broccoli, sweet potato, and bell pepper with olive oil, salt, and black pepper on a baking sheet. Roast for 25- 30 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and tender.
- Prepare the chickpeas:
- Toss chickpeas with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Spread on a separate baking sheet and roast for 15- 20 minutes until crisp.
- Make the miso-butter sauce:
- Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk in miso paste, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and sesame oil until smooth.
- Make the gochujang-maple sauce:
- In a bowl, whisk together gochujang, maple syrup, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil until fully combined.
- Assemble bowls:
- Divide cooked grains among four bowls. Top with roasted vegetables and chickpeas. Drizzle generously with one or both sauces. Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds, and pickled red onions if desired.
Save to Pinterest Everyone loves building their own bowl at the table, choosing favorite toppings and drizzle. These bowls are always a hit at family dinners, especially when paired with extra sauce on the side.
Required Tools
Saucepan with lid, baking sheets, mixing bowls, whisk, chefs knife, cutting board
Allergen Information
Contains soy (miso, soy sauce, gochujang), gluten (soy sauce, some gochujang), and milk (butter; substitute with vegan butter if needed). For gluten-free, use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce and check gochujang labels. Always verify ingredient labels if you have allergies.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
Calories: 420, Total Fat: 13 g, Carbohydrates: 65 g, Protein: 13 g
Save to Pinterest Mix and match your favorite veggies, proteins, and sauces for endless flavor combinations. These bowls make weeknight meals exciting and effortless.
Answers to Recipe Questions
- → Can I use other grains instead of brown rice or quinoa?
Yes, try farro, barley, or cauliflower rice. Adjust cooking times according to the grain selected.
- → What proteins work well besides chickpeas?
Tofu, tempeh, or grilled chicken make great substitutes, allowing flexibility for personal preference.
- → Are the sauces spicy?
Gochujang-maple is gently spicy; miso-butter is savory. Adjust gochujang for milder or hotter bowls.
- → How can I make these bowls vegan?
Simply use vegan butter in the miso-butter sauce. All other components are plant-based as written.
- → Can the sauces be made ahead?
Yes, both sauces keep well covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days for easy meal prep.
- → What can I serve alongside these bowls?
Kimchi, fresh herbs, or a crisp salad are excellent accompaniments to add extra freshness and flavor.