Arugula Pesto Grain Bowl (Printable Version)

A nourishing grain bowl with homemade arugula pesto, roasted vegetables, and quinoa.

# What You Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, uncooked and rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Roasted Vegetables

04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 medium zucchini, sliced
06 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Arugula Pesto

09 - 2 cups fresh arugula, packed
10 - ¼ cup walnuts or pine nuts
11 - 1 clove garlic
12 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - ½ cup olive oil
14 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
15 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Assembly

16 - 2 cups fresh arugula
17 - ¼ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
18 - ¼ cup toasted pine nuts, optional
19 - Freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How-to Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - In a saucepan, combine quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is completely absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
03 - Toss cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and red bell pepper with olive oil and black pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 18-20 minutes until vegetables are tender and lightly caramelized.
04 - In a food processor, combine arugula, walnuts or pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan. Pulse while slowly drizzling in olive oil and lemon juice until achieving a smooth consistency. Season with salt.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked quinoa, roasted vegetables, and half of the prepared pesto. Toss gently until ingredients are evenly coated.
06 - Divide fresh arugula among four serving bowls. Top each bowl with the quinoa-vegetable mixture and drizzle with remaining pesto.
07 - Top each bowl with shaved Parmesan, toasted pine nuts if using, and a generous grinding of fresh black pepper. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour, making weeknight dinners feel effortless without sacrificing real nutrition.
  • The peppery arugula pesto is addictive in a way that makes you want to drizzle it on everything else you cook.
  • You can prep components ahead and assemble fresh bowls whenever hunger strikes, perfect for chaotic weeks.
02 -
  • Don't over-blend your pesto or it will turn dark and lose that bright, fresh flavor—pulse until it just comes together, leaving a little texture.
  • The warm grain mixture will slightly wilt the fresh arugula on top, and that's exactly what you want; the contrast between warm and cool is where the magic happens.
03 -
  • Toast your pine nuts in a dry skillet for just two minutes before sprinkling them on top—that extra warmth and fragrance elevates the entire bowl.
  • Make extra pesto and freeze it in ice cube trays; pull out a cube whenever you want to brighten pasta, soup, or even plain roasted vegetables with zero effort.
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