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This Korean Rice Bowl on counter with Rice, Lentils and Cauliflower. This recipe is da bomb, exploding with flavor! The rice soaks up the sauce, which gives you a nutty, salty flavor from sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from ginger and garlic, and sweetness from honey to balance it all out. Lentils and cauliflower give a meaty bite.
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Korean Rice Bowl with Lentils and Cauliflower

This Korean Rice Bowl with Lentils and Cauliflower is da bomb, exploding with flavor!  The rice soaks up the incredibly flavorful sauce from the lentils and the cauliflower which gives you a nutty and salty backdrop from the sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from the ginger and garlic, and sweet notes from the honey to balance it all out.  The lentils are creamy and hearty and the cauliflower gives you a nice meaty bite.  Overall, the perfect rice bowl.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian, Korean
Keyword cauliflower, korean, Lentils, Rice bowl
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 537kcal
Author Carrie Tyler

Ingredients

Lentils - Sauce in Large Mixing Bowl

  • ¼ Cup Soy Sauce
  • 2 cups Water
  • 2 tablespoon Honey
  • 2 Cloves Garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Ginger, minced
  • 2 teaspoon Sesame Oil
  • ½ teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • 3 Scallions/Green Onions chopped
  • 1 Cup red Lentils

Cauliflower - Sauce in Medium Mixing Bowl

  • ½ cup Soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Honey
  • 1 teaspoon Ginger, minced
  • 1 clove Garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
  • 1 cup Water (for sauce)

Other Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup Water (for cornstarch slurry)
  • 2 tablespoon Cornstarch
  • 4 cups Cauliflower florets
  • 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil half for Cauliflower, half for Scallions & Lentils
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper
  • 2 Tbls Sesame Seeds
  • 1 ½ cups uncooked rice

Instructions

Prep Ingredients Ahead of time

  • You will be making 2 sauces, so get a large mixing bowl and a medium size bowl.  
  • Peel and Mince the ginger.  To peel, you can scrape the skin off with a spoon, a peeler, or cut it off with a knife.  Mince with a knife.  Place 1 teaspoon of the ginger in the large bowl and another 1 teaspoon in the medium bowl.
    Minced Garlic and Ginger for Korean Rice Bowl with Lentils and Cauliflower recipe, which is da bomb, exploding with flavor! The rice soaks up the sauce, which gives you a nutty, salty flavor from sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from ginger and garlic, and sweetness from honey to balance it all out. Lentils and cauliflower give a meaty bite.
  • Peel and mince the garlic with a garlic press or knife.  2 Cloves will go into the large bowl and 1 clove into the medium bowl.
    Minced Garlic and Ginger for Korean Rice Bowl with Lentils and Cauliflower recipe, which is da bomb, exploding with flavor! The rice soaks up the sauce, which gives you a nutty, salty flavor from sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from ginger and garlic, and sweetness from honey to balance it all out. Lentils and cauliflower give a meaty bite.
  • Finely Slice the scallions.  Save some of the sliced green tops in a plastic baggie for garnish.  Place the rest of the sliced scallions in another baggie (or just set aside if you will cook them now) for cooking with the lentils.
  • Finish preparing the Lentil Sauce in the Large Bowl by adding the rest of the ingredients in the Lentils Sauce list, EXCEPT THE LENTILS which will go in once you are ready to cook.  If you are doing this a day or more ahead, store sauce covered in fridge.
    Sauce in clear bowl with whisk for Korean Rice Bowl with Lentils and Cauliflower recipe, which is da bomb, exploding with flavor! The rice soaks up the sauce, which gives you a nutty, salty flavor from sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from ginger and garlic, and sweetness from honey to balance it all out. Lentils and cauliflower give a meaty bite.
  • Finish preparing the Cauliflower Sauce in the Medium Bowl by adding the rest of the ingredients in the Cauliflower Sauce list: Soy sauce, Honey, Sesame Oil, 1 cup Water.  If you are doing this a day or more ahead, store sauce covered in fridge.

Make your Korean Rice Bowl Meal

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  • Cook the rice according to package instructions. Or rinse the rice under colder water in a strainer. Then add the rice, 2 ¼ cups water, and a teaspoon of salt to a pot with a tightly fitting lid. Bring the water up to a soft boil, stir the rice, turn the heat down to the lowest setting, cover tightly, and cook on lowest heat for 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes, turn off the heat, but keep covered until you are ready to serve.
  • To a preheated sauce pot, add a drizzle of olive oil and the scallions and cook for a few minutes while stirring so they don't burn.  Then add the lentils and stir to combine the flavors and mix with the oil.
    Lentils in pot for Korean Rice Bowl with Lentils and Cauliflower recipe, which is da bomb, exploding with flavor! The rice soaks up the sauce, which gives you a nutty, salty flavor from sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from ginger and garlic, and sweetness from honey to balance it all out. Lentils and cauliflower give a meaty bite.
  • Add the sauce to the pot and bring to a soft boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until the lentils are cooked and tender, and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 10-15 minutes.
    Sauce in pot with wood spoon on stove for Korean Rice Bowl with Lentils and Cauliflower recipe, which is da bomb, exploding with flavor! The rice soaks up the sauce, which gives you a nutty, salty flavor from sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from ginger and garlic, and sweetness from honey to balance it all out. Lentils and cauliflower give a meaty bite.
  • For the cauliflower, spread the florets out on a sheet pan, drizzle or spray with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.  Rub the oil and seasoning all over the florets and then spread them out again.  Roast them in the 375 oven for 25 minutes until golden brown and fork tender.
    Roasted Cauliflower on pan for Korean Rice Bowl with Lentils and Cauliflower recipe, which is da bomb, exploding with flavor! The rice soaks up the sauce, which gives you a nutty, salty flavor from sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from ginger and garlic, and sweetness from honey to balance it all out. Lentils and cauliflower give a meaty bite.
  • While the cauliflower is roasting, bring the cauliflower sauce up to a simmer in a small sauce pot.  
  • Make the cornstarch slurry by adding the 2 tablespoons of corn starch to the ¼ cup cold water and mixing until it dissolves.  Whisk it into the simmering sauce and then reduce the heat.  Continue to whisk as the sauce thickens to ensure no clumps form, just a few minutes.  Turn off the heat and then add the roasted cauliflower to the sauce folding it in to completely coat it with the thick sauce.
    Roasted Cauliflower mixed in sauce in a pot for Korean Rice Bowl with Lentils and Cauliflower recipe, which is da bomb, exploding with flavor! The rice soaks up the sauce, which gives you a nutty, salty flavor from sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from ginger and garlic, and sweetness from honey to balance it all out. Lentils and cauliflower give a meaty bite.
  • Serve by first putting the rice in the bowl, then spooning the lentils over the rice, and last the cauliflower.  Garnish with the green onions and sesame seeds.  Enjoy!
    This Korean Rice Bowl on counter with Rice, Lentils and Cauliflower. This recipe is da bomb, exploding with flavor! The rice soaks up the sauce, which gives you a nutty, salty flavor from sesame oil and soy sauce, a warm and zesty kick from ginger and garlic, and sweetness from honey to balance it all out. Lentils and cauliflower give a meaty bite.
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