🧺 The Farmers Market Bowl

Jul 29

The Story Behind the Bowl

The other day, a friend asked me:
“What’s the healthiest vegetable?”

It got me thinking… and the answer is actually spinach — one of the most nutrient-dense leafy greens you can eat. So naturally, that’s where this story begins.

This bowl starts with a warm lemon-spinach rice, cooked with fresh basil and olive oil until fragrant. Then it’s layered with chickpeas, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, crumbled vegan feta (I love Follow Your Heart), and finished with a drizzle of lemon herb dressing.

The result? A bowl that’s colorful, nourishing, and completely craveable — perfect for meal prep, summer picnics, or an easy family dinner.

🛒 Ingredients:

For the Bowl

1–2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
1 cup uncooked rice (white, brown, or jasmine)
Juice of ½ lemon
1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup cucumber, diced
½ cup chickpeas, rinsed and drained
½ cup corn (fresh, frozen, or canned)
¼ cup Follow Your Heart feta, crumbled

For the Lemon Herb Dressing

2 tbsp olive oil (I use drizzle by Graza — you can get 10% off here).
Juice of ½ lemon
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
½ tsp maple syrup (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste

🥗 Instructions:

1. Make the lemon-spinach rice:
Add rice to a pan with water or veggie broth. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add in lemon juice, chopped spinach, basil, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Cover and cook for another 8 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Fluff and let cool slightly.

2. Whisk the dressing:
In a small bowl or jar, combine olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, chopped basil, maple syrup (if using), and salt and pepper. Whisk or shake until fully combined.

3. Assemble the bowl:
Spoon the lemon-spinach rice into your bowl. Top with chickpeas, corn, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.

4. Finish it off:
Add a crumble of Follow Your Heart feta and drizzle generously with lemon herb dressing.

5. Serve & store:
Enjoy right away or store in the fridge for up to 2 days. Great for lunch on-the-go or a quick weeknight dinner.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Make It Family Friendly:

Cooking plant-based for yourself but feeding a mixed household? This bowl is super easy to adapt:

For omnivores: Serve grilled chicken or shrimp on the side for others to mix in.
For picky eaters: Keep ingredients separate for a DIY build-your-own-bowl night.
Dairy-eaters: Offer regular feta or mozzarella balls alongside the Follow Your Heart version.

You can even prep the rice and toppings in bulk and let everyone create their own variation.

💛 New to Plant-Based Eating?

I created a Starter Pack just for you — whether you're curious about eating more plants or need simple ways to make it work with your family.
It includes:
✔️ Pantry swaps for your favorite comfort meals
✔️ 10-minute meal ideas
✔️ Easy ways to modify recipes for mixed households (like this one!)

🔗 Grab it here! — or find it in my Instagram bio and under the “Start Here” highlight