Grain Bowl

A grain bowl is a dish built on a base of cooked whole grains topped with an assortment of vegetables, protein, and a dressing or sauce. The format echoes older grain-and-topping dishes from Asian and Middle Eastern cooking, but the grain bowl as a named, composed dish is a more recent creation of health-focused Western cooking.

Common base grains include brown rice, quinoa, farro, barley, and wild rice. Toppings are open-ended: roasted or raw vegetables, a protein such as grilled chicken, tofu, or a boiled egg, plus nuts, seeds, herbs, and a finishing dressing.

Grain bowls are valued for being customizable to dietary needs and easy to prepare ahead, and take on regional character depending on toppings, from Mediterranean (feta, olives) to Asian-influenced (edamame, pickled ginger).