Spinach and Feta Grain Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant Mediterranean bowl with sautéed spinach, creamy feta, and fresh vegetables over fluffy quinoa grains.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa uncooked or brown rice
02 - 2 cups vegetable broth or water

→ Vegetables

03 - 4 cups fresh spinach, washed and roughly chopped
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 small cucumber, diced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dairy

08 - 3/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled

→ Dressing

09 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1.5 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Optional Toppings

14 - 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds
15 - Fresh parsley, chopped

# How To Make It:

01 - In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable broth or water to a boil. Stir in quinoa or brown rice, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until tender and liquid is absorbed, approximately 15 minutes for quinoa or 35 minutes for brown rice. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the chopped spinach and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until just wilted. Remove from heat.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - Divide cooked grains evenly among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with sautéed spinach, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese evenly over each bowl.
06 - Drizzle prepared dressing over each bowl. Garnish with toasted pine nuts or sunflower seeds and fresh parsley if desired.
07 - Serve immediately while warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together faster than you'd think, making weeknight dinners feel less like a chore and more like a small act of self-care.
  • The salty, creamy feta against bright lemon and tender greens tastes way more sophisticated than the minimal effort required.
  • You can eat it warm right out of the pan or pack it cold for lunch, and it somehow tastes even better the next day.
02 -
  • Don't oversaturate the vegetables with dressing right away—add it just before eating, or the bowl gets soggy and loses its textural contrast.
  • If you're making this ahead, keep the warm grains, cooled spinach, and fresh vegetables in separate containers, and only assemble when you're ready to eat.
03 -
  • Toast your pine nuts in a dry skillet for just two minutes until they're fragrant and golden—this single step transforms them from a nice addition into something that tastes intentional.
  • Mince your garlic clove for the dressing the moment before you whisk it, so the garlic tastes alive and not dull and oxidized.
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