Healthy Grilled Mediterranean Bowl (Printable)

Charred vegetables and grilled chicken or halloumi over quinoa with tzatziki, olives, and feta.

# Ingredient List:

→ Protein & Main

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 pounds) or 16 oz halloumi, sliced into 0.5-inch pieces
02 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
06 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
07 - 0.5 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
08 - 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Grains

09 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
10 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

→ Vegetables

11 - 1 medium zucchini, cut into 0.5-inch rounds
12 - 1 red bell pepper, cored and quartered
13 - 1 small eggplant, cut into 0.5-inch rounds
14 - 1 pint cherry tomatoes, whole
15 - 0.5 red onion, cut into eight wedges
16 - 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
17 - 1 medium cucumber, diced

→ Toppings

18 - 0.25 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
19 - 0.25 cup crumbled feta cheese
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Tzatziki Sauce

21 - 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
22 - 0.5 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and grated
23 - 1 clove garlic, minced
24 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
25 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped, or 1 teaspoon dried dill
26 - 1 teaspoon olive oil
27 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Squeeze excess moisture from the grated cucumber using paper towels. In a bowl, combine yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, dill, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir well, cover, and refrigerate while preparing the remaining components.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add chicken or halloumi and toss to coat. Transfer half the marinade to a separate bowl and add zucchini, bell pepper, eggplant, tomatoes, onion, and chickpeas. Toss to coat evenly. Cover both bowls and marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight for enhanced flavor development.
03 - In a medium saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
04 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grates or pan to prevent sticking.
05 - Place marinated chicken or halloumi on the grill. Grill chicken 6 to 8 minutes per side until cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F, or halloumi 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden grill marks appear. Remove and rest for 5 minutes, then slice chicken if using.
06 - Using a grill basket or directly on the grates, cook zucchini, eggplant, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, and chickpeas for 4 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender-crisp and charred in spots.
07 - Divide cooked quinoa among four bowls. Top each with sliced chicken or halloumi, grilled vegetables, diced cucumber, olives, and crumbled feta cheese.
08 - Drizzle each bowl with extra-virgin olive oil and a generous scoop of tzatziki sauce. Garnish with chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon if desired. Serve immediately while warm and fresh.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Every component can be prepped ahead, so dinnertime is just assembly and a quick grill session.
  • The halloumi option means my vegetarian friends and my protein-loving husband both leave the table happy.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the quinoa soaks up all the tzatziki and charred vegetable juices.
02 -
  • Don't skip squeezing the cucumber for the tzatziki, or you'll end up with a watery puddle instead of a thick sauce.
  • Marinate the protein and vegetables for at least thirty minutes, but overnight makes the flavors sink in deeper and the chicken even more tender.
  • If you're grilling halloumi, watch it closely because it goes from golden to rubbery in seconds.
03 -
  • Use a grill basket for the chickpeas and smaller vegetable pieces so nothing falls through the grates.
  • If you don't have a grill, a cast-iron grill pan on high heat will give you similar char marks and smoky flavor.
  • Taste the tzatziki after it sits in the fridge for an hour, because the garlic and dill intensify and you might want to add more lemon to balance it.
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