• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Wendy Polisi
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Healthy Living
    • Essential Oils
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookies Policy
    • Terms of Service and Conditions
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Lifestyle
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Diet » Gluten Free Recipes

    Protein-Packed Quinoa Power Bowl

    5 from 1 vote
    Posted March 25, 2023 by Wendy Polisi

    • Share6428
    • Tweet
    • Yummly

    This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Need a quick and easy meal that packs a powerful nutrition punch? Look no further than this delicious vegan Quinoa Power Bowl! This simple, one-bowl dinner is made with hearty quinoa, and nutritious plant-based ingredients like spinach and tomatoes. You'll get a tasty meal full of protein and fiber while enjoying a burst of flavor that will keep you coming back for more.

    Overhead photo of a two bowls of a quinoa power bowl

    Trying to add more vegan food to your diet but don't know where to start?

    Look no further than this delicious and wholesome Quinoa Power Bowl! Packed full of hearty quinoa and nourishing plant-based ingredients and then topped off with a lemon tahini sauce, this vegan dish is sure to satisfy.

    Not only will you be getting a nutritious meal full of protein and fiber, but it's also bursting with flavor that will keep you coming back for more.

    Whether you're looking for a quick lunch or an easy dinner, this protein quinoa power bowl is a perfect choice.

    Ingredients Needed

    Lemon Tahini Sauce

    • Tahini: Tahini is sesame seed paste, often used in Middle Eastern cooking. You can find it near the nut butter section of most grocery stores.
    • Garlic: I prefer freshly minced garlic in this recipe. You could use a teaspoon of garlic powder if you don't have fresh garlic.
    • Lemon Juice: Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the best flavor.
    • Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional yeast is a great source of B vitamins and has a mild cheese-like flavor. It's often used to make vegan dishes.
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds richness and depth to the sauce.
    • Sea Salt: I like to use fine sea salt in this recipe.Fresh
    • Ground Pepper: Freshly ground pepper adds a nice touch of spice.
    • Cayenne Pepper: A pinch of cayenne pepper gives the sauce a bit of heat. You can omit this if you don't like heat.

    Quinoa Bowl

    • Lentils: You can buy dried green lentils and cook them yourself, or buy canned lentils. Both work great in this recipe.
    • Quinoa: I like to use white quinoa, but any type of quinoa will do.
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: You'll need a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil for sautéing the vegetables. You can substitute in another oil, and adjust the amount to your liking.
    • Red Onion: Red onions add a nice sweetness and crunch to the bowl.
    • Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a wonderful flavor. You can use a teaspoon of garlic powder if you don't have fresh garlic.
    • Red Pepper: Red peppers are slightly sweet and add great texture to the bowl.
    • Tomato: Chopped tomatoes give the bowl some juicy flavors. A cup of cherry or grape tomatoes would also work.
    • Spinach or Kale: Either spinach or kale work in this recipe. Chop the leaves into small pieces before adding them to the bowl.
    • Parsley: Fresh parsley adds a bright pop of flavor. Chopped cilantro would also be great.

    Tips & Tricks

    • If you are cooking your quinoa and lentils just before making this quinoa power bowl recipe, you can cool them off quickly by spreading them out on a parchment lined sheet pan if you like.
    • Lemon tahini sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. It's great as a salad dressing or sandwich spread too!
    • Feel free to mix up the veggies in this recipe. Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, broccoli, cabbage, and brussels sprouts all work well.
    • You could substitute another grain like farro, barley, or brown rice in this bowl. (Just be aware that not all grains are gluten-free if that is a concern.)
    • Black beans, chickpeas, tofu, and tempeh could all be used in addition to or in place of the lentils.

    Frequently Asked Questions 

    Is a power bowl healthy?

    Yes! Power bowls are a great way to get a nutritious, balanced meal that is full of flavor. They typically contain lean proteins (or vegan protein like this quinoa protein bowl), fresh vegetables, healthy fats, and whole grains all in one bowl. Eating this type of meal can help you reach your dietary goals while also satisfying your taste buds.

    How would you describe the taste of quinoa?

    Quinoa has a mild, nutty flavor with a slightly crunchy texture. It is often described as having an earthy and nutty taste that pairs well with many different types of flavors, such as herbs, spices, and sauces.

    Tools Needed to Make 

    As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying sales.

    • Food Processor or Blender

    Storage

    This recipe is perfect for meal prep. You can store leftover power bowls with quinoa in a container with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator for up to five days. I recommend waiting to add the lemon tahini sauce until just before serving.

    Side photo of a quinoa power bowl.
    If you’ve tried this Quinoa Power Bowl or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how it went in the below comments, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see all my delicious recipes.
    Square overhead photo of a two bowls of a quinoa power bowl
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Protein Packed Quinoa Power Bowl

    This quinoa protein power bowl is plant-based eating at its best. With almost 17 grams of protein a serving, this bowl is packed with nutrients and flavor.


    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time35 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American, Gluten Free, Healthy
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 327kcal
    Author: Wendy Polisi

    Ingredients

    Lemon Tahini Sauce

    • ¼ cup tahini
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
    • ¼ cup nutritional yeast
    • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

    Quinoa Bowl

    • 1 cup cooked green lentils
    • 2 cups cooked quinoa
    • 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 red onion chopped
    • 4 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 red pepper chopped
    • 1 tomato chopped
    • 3 cups spinach or kale roughly chopped
    • ½ cup fresh parsley chopped fine

    Instructions

    • In a food processor or blender, combine tahini, garlic, lemon juice, nutritional yeast, olive oil, sea salt, ground pepper and cayenne. Process until combined and set aside.
    • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add garlic, bell pepper and tomato, and cook for 7 to 8 minutes more. Stir in spinach or kale and cook until wilted.
    • Stir in the tahini dressing, cooked lentils and quinoa. Reduce heat to low and simmer until heated through.
    • Remove from heat and stir in minced parsley.
    • Season with salt and black pepper and serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

    Notes

    Adapted from the Oh She Glows Cookbook

    Nutrition

    Calories: 327kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 414mg | Potassium: 702mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2480IU | Vitamin C: 45.7mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 4.8mg

    Filed Under:

    Gluten Free RecipesMain Dish RecipesQuinoa RecipesSalad RecipesVegan RecipesVegetarian Recipes

    More Gluten Free Recipes

    • Square overhead photo of a kale pomegranate salad in a shallow white dish with a serving spoon next to it.
      Kale Pomegranate Salad with Goat Cheese
    • Square overhead photo of wild rice stuffing in a casserole dish.
      Wild Rice Stuffing with Cranberries
    • Overhead photo of yukon gold mashed potatoes on a light blue bowl.
      25-Minute Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
    • Close up overhead photo of loaded mashed potatoes in a casserole dish.
      Loaded Mashed Potatoes

    About Wendy Polisi

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

      Your support means the world to me! If you loved this recipe, I would be grateful if you left a star rating while leaving a comment. Star ratings go a long way in helping other food enthusiasts discover and enjoy my recipes online.

      Thank you!
      Wendy

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Rating




    1. Nancy Offen

      August 27, 2015 at 2:35 pm

      Do you have the recipe for lemon tahini sauce. I would like to try the protein bowl recipe but don't have lemon tahini sauce. Thanks, Nancy

      Reply
    2. sue

      March 04, 2016 at 8:08 pm

      Hi, regarding the Quinoa Protein Power Bowl I see the recipe asks for uncooked green lentils under ingredients and then the instructions it says to stir in cooked lentils. I'm thinking I should cook the lentils first?? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Wendy Polisi

        March 08, 2016 at 2:11 pm

        Hi Sue - yes in step two you cook the lentils according to package instructions.

        Reply
    3. Christine Siracusa

      October 21, 2016 at 8:43 pm

      I'm the same. Once I loosen up the reins just a little on my healthy eating all hell breaks loose. This little bowl is the perfect thing to entice me back to the light side though.

      Reply
    4. John Hartil

      October 22, 2016 at 2:58 pm

      It certainly does look so good!

      Reply
    5. Shannon Graham

      September 02, 2017 at 2:35 am

      5 stars
      I'm always looking for a way to up my protein for the day.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Favorites

    • Close up photo of a spoonful of Spanish Cauliflower Rice resting in a bowl of keto rice.
      25-Minute Spanish Cauliflower Rice
    • Close up photo of a bread machine dinner roll on a cooling rack with other rolls behind it.
      Fluffy and Tender Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
    • Square side photo of gluten free vegetarian lasagna.
      Gluten Free Vegetarian Lasagna
    • Square overhead photo of an aqua bowl with tahini pastas garnished with scallions and sesame seeds.
      15-Minute Sesame Tahini Pasta
    • Square close up photo of a crispy quinoa salad with pomegranate and sweet potato.
      Sweet Potato Pomegranate Salad with Crispy Quinoa
    • Square close up photo of a thai chicken salad on a white plate.
      Thai Chicken Salad Recipe

    Family, Food and Fun!

    Hi, I’m Wendy! I’m a cook, 5 time cookbook author, blogger, natural health enthusiast…and most importantly a mom. My boys are 16 & 17 and my late life princess is 9.

    More about me →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Terms of Service
    • About
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.