In my opinion, life without guacamole isn’t worth living. It’s quite possibly the worlds best topping and today it’s front and center on this Southwestern Brown Rice Bowl.
But it’s actually not ALL about the guacamole. The secret ingredient in this bowl is the most insanely delicious green rice you’ll ever make in your entire life. And I’m not lying. This green rice has been making quite a few appearances in our kitchen recently and my new rice cooker has been helping along the way! Once the rice is perfectly cooked, it gets tossed with my cilantro vinaigrette. The vinaigrette turns the mixture bright green and that alone is enough. But then you top it with everything your heart desires. For me that’s a combination of black beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, shredded romaine lettuce, chopped bell peppers and a sprinkling of cheese. (because have you met me? I live for cheese)
It’s one of those perfect meals that you can make and then take for lunches throughout the week or eat over and over and over again for dinner! I never tire of this one. As it stands it's vegetarian, but you could easily add some cooked salmon or shredded rotisserie chicken if that's more your speed.
Southwestern Brown Rice Bowl
Ingredients
For the Rice:
- 2 cups brown rice
- 1 shallot roughly chopped
- 2 cups tightly packed fresh cilantro leaves tough stems removed
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ teaspoons red pepper flakes
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Toppings:
- Black Beans
- 1 recipe Guacamole
- Pico de Gallo recipe below
- Shredded Romaine Lettuce
- Chopped yellow or orange bell peppers
- Freshly Shredded Colby Jack Cheese
- Additional cilantro for garnish
For the Pico de Gallo
- 1 ½ pounds ripe tomatoes cut into ¼- to ½-inch dice
- Kosher salt
- ½ large white onion finely diced (about ¾ cup)
- 1 to 2 jalapeño chilies finely diced (seeds and membranes removed for a milder salsa)
- ½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 1 tablespoon lime juice from 1 lime
Instructions
- Cook the brown rice in a rice cooker according to the package directions
- Combine all the ingredients for the cilantro vinaigrette in a high powered blender and blend for 60 seconds until very smooth. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Fold the vinaigrette into the cooked brown rice.
- Divide the rice amongst 4 bowls and top with black beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, bell peppers and cheese. Add extra cilantro to garnish if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe by What's Gaby Cooking
STUNNING. Want!
Oh man, this rice bowl looks SO GOOD! Such a big bowl of comfort 🙂
This looks so yummy! Guacamole and all.
I will take 2 please!
Yes, this looks amazing. Like everything I always wanted Chipotle to be.
This looks absolutely delicious, Gaby! I agree about the awesomeness of guacamole. Nirvana.
This bowl looks delicious and sounds easy to make! Love something that you can pop in the fridge and eat multiple times a week!
~Christine
http://www.mapleandmint.com
Oh my, I can taste the flavors just my looking at your photos. It's going to be -20 tonight, how great this would be for dinner tonight.
This is right up my alley! The green rice is going to be a favorite. Now if I could just get an avocado tree in my garden......
Wow, that looks like a nice rice cooker. Could you also cook grains such as millet, barley, wheat berries, etc. in the rice cooker? Wouldn't it be nice if it were a multitasker and you could cook rice, grains and beans or can you?.
yes!! I cook millet, barley, quinoa, rice and farro in it! It's awesome
Looks amazing Gaby - healthy and delicious!
life without guac...I shudder to think. This looks amazing, I could eat it every day!
OMG these bowls look AMAZING Gaby! I absolutely love Southwestern style flavours like this - all my favourite ingredients in one bowl! I think I'd be dipping some tortilla chips in there too! 😀
What a totally stunning bowl! Wish I was having it right now! Pinned! 🙂
Yay for bowl food! I can totally get down with this recipe. Yummmmm!