Charred Pineapple Jalapeño Grain Bowl (Printable)
Smoky pineapple and spicy jalapeños atop fluffy grains with tangy cilantro lime dressing.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa or brown rice, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Vegetables & Fruit
04 - 1 1/2 cups fresh pineapple, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
05 - 2 medium jalapeños, sliced into rings, seeds removed for less heat
06 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
09 - 1 avocado, sliced
10 - 2 cups baby spinach or mixed greens
11 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Cilantro Lime Dressing
12 - 1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
13 - Juice of 2 limes
14 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
15 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
16 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
17 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
18 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
19 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
20 - Extra cilantro leaves
21 - Lime wedges
# How-To Steps:
01 - Combine quinoa or rice, water, and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes for quinoa or according to package instructions for rice. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Allow to cool slightly while preparing remaining components.
02 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add pineapple chunks and jalapeño rings in a single layer. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until lightly charred and caramelized. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
03 - Whisk together chopped cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, maple syrup or honey, minced garlic, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside until ready to serve.
04 - Divide cooked grains evenly among 4 bowls. Arrange spinach or mixed greens, black beans, diced red bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, avocado slices, charred pineapple, and jalapeño rings on top of the grains.
05 - Drizzle cilantro lime dressing generously over each bowl. Garnish with additional fresh cilantro leaves and lime wedges if desired. Serve immediately while components are at peak freshness.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The combination of sweet charred pineapple and bright jalapeño heat creates that perfect sweet-spicy balance that makes your tastebuds wake up and pay attention
- Everything comes together in under 45 minutes but tastes like something you'd order at that trendy grain bowl place that always has a line out the door
02 -
- The char marks on the pineapple aren't just about looks they actually change the flavor making it taste deeper and more caramelized almost like grilled fruit at a summer barbecue
- Let your grains cool for about 10 minutes before assembling otherwise the spinach will wilt too much and lose that fresh texture that makes this bowl so satisfying
03 -
- Room temperature grains absorb the dressing better than cold ones straight from the fridge
- Massaging a tiny bit of olive oil into the spinach before adding the grains keeps it from wilting too much