Summer Vegetable Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant bowl with sautéed seasonal vegetables over fluffy rice, finished with fresh basil.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 medium zucchini, sliced into half-moons
02 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup sweet corn kernels, fresh or frozen
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced

→ Base

06 - 2 cups cooked white or brown rice

→ Aromatics and Seasonings

07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
12 - 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
13 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice, optional

# Steps:

01 - Cook rice according to package instructions. Keep warm until ready to assemble.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add zucchini, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and corn to the skillet. Season with salt and black pepper. Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender-crisp.
04 - Stir in halved cherry tomatoes and cook for 2 to 3 additional minutes until tomatoes begin to soften.
05 - Drizzle with lemon juice if desired. Adjust seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
06 - Divide warm cooked rice equally among four bowls. Top each portion with sautéed vegetable mixture.
07 - Top each bowl generously with torn fresh basil immediately before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in about 35 minutes, which means weeknight dinners that don't feel rushed or repetitive.
  • Every element stays vibrant and textured—there's no mushy aftermath, just vegetables at their peak.
  • You can prep this in the morning and have a beautiful lunch ready, or throw it together when you get home and taste summer in a bowl.
02 -
  • Don't overcrowd the pan; if your skillet is small, sauté in batches so the vegetables caramelize instead of steaming themselves into submission.
  • The cherry tomatoes are the last thing in because they need only the gentlest heat—add them too early and they fall apart instead of softening into their best selves.
03 -
  • If you're cooking for someone new to eating vegetarian meals, this bowl proves that plants can be deeply satisfying without any trickery or masking.
  • Buy vegetables that feel firm and smell like themselves—a perfect zucchini costs the same as a tired one, and the difference shows in every bite.
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