Roasted Broccoli Bowl with Tahini (Printable)

Crispy roasted broccoli over fluffy quinoa with rich tahini drizzle. A wholesome Mediterranean-inspired bowl ready in 40 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large head broccoli, cut into florets
02 - 1 red onion, thinly sliced
03 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
04 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Grains

07 - 1 cup quinoa or brown rice, uncooked
08 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth

→ Tahini Sauce

09 - 1/3 cup tahini
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
11 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
12 - 1 garlic clove, minced
13 - 3 to 5 tablespoons water
14 - Salt to taste

→ Toppings

15 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
16 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
17 - 1 avocado, sliced
18 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Toss broccoli florets and red onion slices with olive oil, smoked paprika, sea salt, and black pepper. Arrange evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until broccoli is golden with crispy edges.
04 - Rinse quinoa or rice under cold water. Combine with water or broth in a saucepan, bring to boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until tender (approximately 15 minutes for quinoa, 35 minutes for brown rice). Fluff with a fork.
05 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, and salt in a bowl. Gradually whisk in water until achieving smooth, pourable consistency.
06 - Divide cooked grains among four bowls. Top with roasted broccoli and onions. Drizzle generously with tahini sauce.
07 - Top with sesame seeds, fresh parsley, avocado slices, and lemon wedges as desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The broccoli gets genuinely crispy and caramelized, not just steamed and sad like most people make it.
  • One bowl becomes four meals if you keep everything separate and assemble fresh each time.
  • That tahini sauce tastes indulgent but it's basically just seeds and lemon juice doing all the heavy lifting.
  • It works for meal prep, last-minute dinners, or impressing someone without pretending you spent hours cooking.
02 -
  • Don't skip stirring the vegetables halfway through roasting—the bottom layer browns faster than you'd expect, and one stir makes the difference between crispy and burnt.
  • The tahini sauce thickens slightly as it cools, so make it thinner than you think you need it when it's warm.
03 -
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes if you have them loose—the flavor deepens and it takes almost no time.
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon right before eating brightens everything, so always finish with that final squeeze even if it seems unnecessary.
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