In my opinion, life without guacamole isnāt worth living. Itās quite possibly the worlds best topping and today itās front and center on this Southwestern Brown Rice Bowl.
But itās actually not ALL about the guacamole. The secret ingredient in this bowlĀ is the most insanely delicious green rice youāll ever make in your entire life. And Iām 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 thatās 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)
Itās 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
- 1/2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1/2 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 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch dice
- Kosher salt
- 1/2 large white onion finely diced (about 3/4 cup)
- 1 to 2 jalapeƱo chilies finely diced (seeds and membranes removed for a milder salsa)
- 1/2 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.
Photo byĀ Matt ArmendarizĀ /Ā Food Styling byĀ Adam PearsonĀ / Recipe by What’s Gaby Cooking
Yay for bowl food! I can totally get down with this recipe. Yummmmm!
What a totally stunning bowl! Wish I was having it right now! Pinned! š
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! š
life without guac…I shudder to think. This looks amazing, I could eat it every day!
Looks amazing Gaby – healthy and delicious!
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
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……
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 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
This looks absolutely delicious, Gaby! I agree about the awesomeness of guacamole. Nirvana.
Yes, this looks amazing. Like everything I always wanted Chipotle to be.
I will take 2 please!
This looks so yummy! Guacamole and all.
Oh man, this rice bowl looks SO GOOD! Such a big bowl of comfort š
STUNNING. Want!
Going to try these tonight, but in reviewing the recipe and making my shopping list, I’m surprised there’s no mention of LIME, except in the pico… but maybe that’s enough? I have deep-seated issues with tomatoes, so I usually skip pico or salsa, so I’ll probably just squeeze a little lime juice on my rice. Either way, can’t wait to give it a whirl!
you can totally add extra lime!!
A delicious way to start the new year!
Guacamole is one of my favourite things in the world too.. so this brown rice bowl definitely is a recipe I will be making. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi Gabi, I’ve been thinking about getting a rice cooker. Which one do you have? We’ve been eating lots more grains and I’m tired of cleaning up the pots and pans from cooking on the stove. š
I have this one and I’m obsessed! http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-NS-ZCC10-Uncooked-Premium-1-0-Liter/dp/B00007J5U7/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1421777374&sr=1-1
Is it two cups of uncooked brown rice or two cups of cooked brown rice? That green rice looks so amazing and I don’t want to get the ratios off when we make it tomorrow night!
uncooked brown rice – so once you cook it it’s much more than 2 cups and it’s great as leftovers if there is extra!
Thanks for the info! We are excited to try them tonight!
I just love all these fresh bowls for the summer season.
I made it tonight! Delicious, next time Iām going to add grilled shrimp!
One of my faves – especially with cauliflower rice! Just made it again this week!
I love simple bowls like this that are great for prepping meals for the week.
I’ve only made the green rice and it’s probably the most flavorful rice I’ve ever had! Amazing!!! Definitely craving it right now!
Winner winner chicken (or tofu) dinner.
Another great recipe. I added tofu marinated in a taco seasoning sauce and added it.
So glad I found you, although now my family expects me to cook every night. LOL
Is there a recipe for the Guacamole?
https://dev.afterhoursagency.com/wgc/best-guacamole-recipe/
You MUST feature more of this green rice,Gaby! It’s bloody amazing and more people need to experience it. I only subbed lime juice for red wine vinegar but So so good. I just had it with home made Thai chicken patties with extra green vinigarette drizzled on top and it paired perfectly!