Moroccan wellness bowl recipe featuring flavourful Moroccan lentils, spiced chicken, and a side of rice and veggies.
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Looking for a delicious and healthy meal prep option that’s bursting with flavour? Then you are in for a treat because this Moroccan-style Wellness Bowl is for you! This hearty bowl features Moroccan-style lentils, savory Moroccan-spiced chicken, a side of basmati rice (or your preferred rice), and veggies. Everything you could want in a wellness bowl.
This bowl isn’t your typical bland wellness dish; it’s packed with rich flavours inspired by Moroccan cuisine. It’s become a favorite in our household because it’s both nutritious and delicious. I have been wanting to create a wellness bowl recipe that I know my family and I would love, and this recipe was it. So I can’t wait for you to try it!
What makes this dish perfect is its ability to adapt to your preferences. Swap out the chicken for salmon if you prefer seafood. Throw in your favorite veggies if the ones I have added just aren’t for you. You can even add other foods that you’d find in a wellness bowl, for example, avocado for the healthy fats or a slice or two of flatbread for the carbohydrates. Use this wellness bowl recipe to inspire you to create your own.
I will not only be sharing the ingredients and step-by-step instructions on how to make this delicious Moroccan-style wellness bowl, but also explain what a wellness bowl is and how this recipe has everything you need to create a healthy dinner (or even lunch!). I hope you all enjoy this recipe. I’d love to hear how it turned out for you! Share your thoughts by rating the recipe at the end and leaving a comment.
This post is all about a wellness bowl recipe.
Moroccan-Flavoured Wellness Bowl
What Is A Wellness Bowl?
A wellness bowl, also known as a nourish bowl, is a wholesome meal that combines healthy fats, protein, veggies, carbohydrates, and grains in a single, well-balanced dish. Here’s how this Moroccan-flavored wellness bowl incorporates all these essential macronutrients:
Healthy fats: extra virgin olive oil (this is used to season nearly everything in this nourish bowl)
Protein: chicken breast, broccoli, and brown lentils
Veggies: broccoli and butternut squash
Carbohydrates: rice, broccoli, butternut squash, brown lentils
grains: rice
Ingredients Needed:
I will be breaking down what ingredients you need for each part of this wellness bowl recipe, so it is easier to see what you need.
Moroccan Lentils:
- Brown lentils: The lentils need to be brown lentils and not orange, as you are going to be making Moroccan lentils. I would recommend buying them from a local Moroccan/Algerian shop as they are more likely to have Moroccan brands. But you can definitely find brown lentils in most supermarkets.
- Vine tomatoes: Make sure they are ripe so the lentils taste really good.
- White onions
- Fresh coriander
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Spices: Salt, black pepper, turmeric, ground cinnamon, curry powder (optional – not traditional but I add it because it adds extra flavour), ginger powder, garlic granules (you can swap this for minced garlic if you prefer to use fresh garlic)
Rice:
- Basmati rice: or a rice of your choice (e.g. brown rice)
- Sea salt: I would recommend swapping your table salt for sea salt or Himalayan pink salt as it is a healthier alternative
- Butter: I used plant-based but you can use any type. The butter will be mixed in the cooked rice to add flavour.
- Extra virgin olive oil: This will also be used to add flavour.
- The salt, butter, and olive oil will all be used to mix in the cooked rice. This adds such a nice flavour to the rice but this is all optional. You can just serve plain basmati rice. Also, if you are thinking of using any other type of rice, e.g. brown rice, then do not add these ingredients because I have never tried doing it with brown rice before.
Veggies:
- Broccoli: Butter, sea salt, black pepper. Once boiled, these will be fried in a little butter- I find it makes the broccoli taste SO much better than roasting them, and then seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Butternut squash: olive oil, salt and black pepper
Moroccan Spiced Chicken Breast:
- Lemon
- Garlic cloves: Minced
- Fresh parsley: Or you can use parsley flakes
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Spices: Salt, turmeric, cumin, ginger, black pepper
How To Make This Chicken Wellness Bowl
Lentils:
- Begin by grating ripe vine tomatoes and onions, ensuring they are finely grated. Transfer them to a large, deep pan. Next, add the finely chopped coriander and the spices.
- Pour in approximately half a cup of extra virgin olive oil, and thoroughly mix all the ingredients together.
- For each serving, use a generous handful of lentils. As a suggestion, consider making a larger batch, like 8 handfuls. The beauty of this is you can freeze half for future wellness bowls, simplifying your meal prep.
- Once you’ve added your washed lentils to the pan, mix it all together and then add around 7-8 cups of water, ensuring the lentils are fully submerged. This provides the essential moisture needed for the lentils to cook to perfection.
- Cook the lentils on medium-high heat, allowing the mixture to simmer gently. After approximately 40 minutes, taste a lentil or two. When they turn tender, you’ll know they’re perfectly cooked. If they remain slightly firm, extend the cooking time by an additional 5 minutes or so. If the water level decreases, simply add 1/2 a cup of hot water (or more if needed) from a kettle and stir to maintain the desired consistency.
Rice:
- Begin by cooking your rice according to the package instructions, ensuring it’s prepared to perfection.
- Once your rice is ready, transfer it to a bowl. To enhance its flavour, add salt for that perfect seasoning. For an extra layer of richness, add some butter, and to add a touch of Mediterranean flair, drizzle some olive oil. Now, gently mix it all together.
Veggies:
- Before I get into these steps, I just want to say that you can roast both veggies in the oven if you wish but I do prefer to fry my boiled broccoli in a bit of butter because I just feel like it tastes so much better.
- Broccoli:
- Start by boiling your broccoli until it’s soft. Once done, drain them.
- Then start by preheating the pan to just the right temperature. Once it’s warmed up, add a tablespoon of butter and then toss in those broccolis. Sprinkle them generously with some salt and black pepper. Let each side cook until it is golden (or if you’re like me, then leave them to slightly burn for that rich flavour)
- Butternut squash:
- Cut and peel the squash into cubes (about 1/2 cup for each person). Give them a wash and then pat dry with some tissue.
- Add to a bowl and add olive oil, salt and black pepper. Mix it well then pour it into a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Pop in the oven until they are completely soft and golden.
Chicken:
- Cut your chicken breast into medium-sized cubes and marinate with olive oil, salt, minced garlic, turmeric, ginger powder, cumin, black pepper, and finely chopped fresh parsley/coriander or parsley flakes. Mix well until well combined.
- You can either place throw a skewer and cook in the oven. Or just lay them out spaced out on a baking tray and cook in the oven.
Once everything has been cooked, lay it out on a large bowl like I have in the picture below. Enjoy!
Other Healthy Dinners You’ll Also Enjoy:
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Meal-Prep Friendly: If you are always busy and hardly get the time to cook, you can prepare this wellness bowl recipe on a Sunday, ready for you to enjoy for the next 2-3 days. Also, you can prep the lentils and freeze batches, to make meal prepping easier for you so you have less to cook on the day.
- Customizable: The recipe’s versatility allows you to tailor it to your unique preferences. Whether it’s swapping proteins, choosing favourite veggies, or adding personal touches. You can play around until you create your own wellness bowl.
- Nutrient Dense Meal: This meal includes essential macronutrients you need for overall well-being. It provides a rich source of healthy fats, protein, veggies, carbohydrates, and grains in one delicious bowl.
How To Store
Storing your Moroccan-style Wellness Bowl is simple. Here’s how:
- Refrigeration: If you plan to consume it within the next few days (2-3 days), store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Properly sealed, it should stay fresh and flavourful.
- Freezing: To extend its shelf life further, consider freezing individual portions in airtight freezer-safe containers. This way, you can enjoy the goodness of your wellness bowl even weeks later. I would recommend freezing the lentils only, and nothing else, because it is the only one that takes the longest to make. Everything else you can prep on the day or on your meal-prepping day. This way everything else will be fresh.
Moroccan-flavoured Wellness Bowl
Equipment
- deep large pan
- baking tray
- non-stick baking paper
- skewers optional
- Saucepan
Ingredients
Moroccan Lentils (this makes enough for 8 people so store the leftovers in the freezer)
- 3-4 medium vine tomatoes (ripe)
- 2 medium white oniones
- 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 8 full handfuls brown lentils
- 1.5 tsp sea salt (opt for sea salt or Himalayan for a healthier alternative to table salt)
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp curry powder (optional, but makes it taste really good)
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ginger powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 8 cups water (cold)
Rice (for 4 people)
- 1.5 cups basmati rice
- 1/2 tbsp butter
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- a drizzle extra virgin olive oil
Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1/2 lemon
- 1.5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ginger powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 2 minced/grated garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley (or you can use parsley flakes)
Veggies
- Broccolis (I usually serve 3-4 medium-sized sliced stem broccolis per person)
- 1 tbsp butter
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup butternut squash (peeled and cut into cubes - 1/2 cup per person, or you can add more)
- a drizzle extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Moroccan Lentils
- Grate tomatoes and onions finely. Transfer to a deep pan. Add coriander and spices. Pour in half a cup of olive oil. Mix well.
- Wash your brown lentils, add to the mixture and mix it well again. Then pour around 8 cups of water to fully cover the lentils.
- Cook on medium-high heat for about 40 minutes. Taste a lentil; if tender, it's done. If not, cook a bit longer. Add hot water if needed. (usually needs about 45-50 minutes). Make sure after 30 minutes you are occasionally stirring so it does not stick to the pan.
Rice
- Wash your rice and add water until the water is at least 1cm higher than the rice. Follow package instructions for cooking rice perfectly.
- Once cooked, in a bowl, combine the cooked rice with salt, butter, and a drizzle of olive oil. Mix gently to infuse the flavours.
Moroccan-Spiced Chicken
- Cut your chicken breast into cubes and marinate with the spices and olive oil.
- If you do have skewers, then add the chicken cubes through the skewers. Otherwise, you can just lay out the chicken on a baking tray.
- Preheat oven to 250C and cook for 15 minutes then flip them and cook for another 5 minutes.
Veggies
- For the broccolis, boil them until soft and then drain. In a pan, add butter and allow it to melt. Then toss in the broccolis and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Allow the broccoli to cook on each side until they are golden (or slightly burnt as I like them).
- Peel and cut the butternut squash into cubes. Wash them and then pat dry with a tissue. Add them to a bowl, drizzle olive oil, and add salt and pepper to taste. Mix well.
- Place a non-stick baking paper on a baking tray and pour the seasoned butternut squash. Cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 200C.
- Once everything has been cooked, add to a large bowl. Add the rice first, then place the lentils on top. And finally, add the veggies and chicken on the side.
- Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do!
Don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below! I would love to hear what you guys think.
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Lots of love, Mariam x
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This post was all about a Moroccan-flavoured wellness bowl recipe!
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