Arugula Pesto Grain Bowl (Printable)

Peppery arugula pesto coats roasted vegetables and quinoa in this vibrant, nourishing grain bowl.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, uncooked, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Arugula Pesto

09 - 2 cups fresh arugula, packed
10 - ¼ cup walnuts or pine nuts
11 - 1 clove garlic
12 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - ½ cup olive oil
14 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
15 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Assembly

16 - 2 cups fresh arugula
17 - ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
18 - ¼ cup toasted pine nuts, optional
19 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F.
02 - In a saucepan, combine quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Toss cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and red bell pepper with olive oil and black pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 18–20 minutes, until tender and lightly caramelized.
04 - In a food processor, blend arugula, walnuts or pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan. With the motor running, drizzle in olive oil and lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt.
05 - In a large bowl, combine cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, and half the arugula pesto. Toss gently to coat.
06 - Divide fresh arugula among serving bowls. Top with the quinoa-vegetable mixture. Drizzle with remaining pesto.
07 - Garnish with shaved Parmesan, toasted pine nuts, and extra black pepper. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pesto tastes fresh and peppery without being heavy, which means you can actually enjoy eating it without feeling weighed down.
  • Every component comes together in the same 45 minutes, so there's no day-long prep drama.
  • It's endlessly flexible depending on what's in your vegetable bin or pantry on any given day.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa or you'll taste a bitter, soapy coating that overshadows everything else.
  • Make the pesto just before assembly because it can oxidize and turn slightly brownish if it sits for too long, which affects both color and taste.
03 -
  • If your pesto looks too thick, add more olive oil a teaspoon at a time until it reaches a consistency that coats a spoon.
  • Toasting your own pine nuts in a dry pan takes about three minutes and tastes so much better than the pre-toasted versions that sit in packages.
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