Baja Bowl Recipe

Name: Baja Bowl
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup quinoa; 1/4 cup rice; 1/8 teaspoon salt (or to taste (optional)); 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon coconut aminos (or tamari or soy sauce); 2 to 3 chipotle peppers ( in adobo sauce (canned)); 3 cloves garlic (minced); 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 2 teaspoons maple syrup; 1 tablespoon water; 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice ((about 2 small limes)); 1/4 cup tahini; 1 (15-ounce) cans black beans (drained and rinsed (1 1/2 cups cooked)); 1 (10-ounce) packets frozen sweet corn (thawed); 2 medium-large plum tomatoes (small dice); 1 large avocado (chopped); 1/3 cup chopped cilantro ((optional)); Lime wedges (for serving)

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Pink sauce, corn, quinoa, rice, avocado, lime, cilantro, tomato, and black beans.

Black beans
Homemade Chipotle Sauce (Baja Sauce)
Quinoa
Rice
Sweet corn
Plum tomatoes
Avocado
Cilantro

See the recipe card for quantities.

🍠 Substitutions

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce - Canned Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce are widely available, inexpensive, and take this dish to the next level. However, you can use an equal amount of tomato passata, or puréed or canned tomatoes for the chipotle sauce and marinade, and add smoked paprika to taste.

Baja Sauce - substitute with Everything Cashew Sauce or this Lemon Herb Tahini instead

Tofu Steak - add one of these Tofu Steaks to this Baja Bowl for even more protein

Black beans - substitute with 1 ½ cups cooked beans of your choice

Cilantro - use chopped parsley instead as desired or omit it entirely

Quinoa rice - substitute with 1 ½ cups cooked quinoa, orzo rice, or a cooked grain of your choice

Sweet potato - Add sweet potato. Cut one large sweet potato into 1-inch cubes and roast in olive oil and salt for about 20 minutes.

Visit my Vegan Bean Recipes page for more healthy and easy bean dishes.

📖 How to Make a Baja Bowl

For the full recipe with quantities, scroll down to the bottom of the post. This is an overview.

Step 1. Add the rice and quinoa to a saucepan or rice cooker with 1 cup water. Bring the water to a simmer. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Set aside for 5 minutes covered before fluffing with a fork.

Chipotle peppers, garlic, maple syrup, and oregano in the canister of a chopper for blending.

Step 2. Blend the vinegar, coconut aminos, chipotle peppers, garlic, oregano, cumin, and maple syrup until mostly smooth with some small chunks remaining.

Red chipotle sauce with minced garlic next to a white bowl of tahini.

Step 3. Add the water, and then lime juice to taste.

Baja sauce in a white bowl with a gold spoon.

Step 4. Mix in the tahini until smooth.

Baja bowl with rice, quinoa, avocado, tomatoes, black beans, corn, lime, and Bala sauce on the side.

Step 5. Make the Baja Bowl: Serve the quinoa rice, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro in a bowl with a generous drizzle of Chipotle Sauce (Baja Sauce).

Baja bowl with rice, avocado, corn, tomatoes, black beans, and tofu steak with Baja sauce.

Optional: Add a piece of tofu steak to your Baja Bowl for even more protein!

✔️ Expert Tips

Quinoa rice: For detailed instructions on how to make this using a rice cooker, saucepan, or microwave, visit my Quinoa Rice recipe.
For more protein (over 45 grams): Add Tofu Steaks to this bowl. The sauce from the tofu steak recipe should be enough for this bowl.
Storage: Refrigerate leftover Baja Bowl in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Store the sauce in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

Can I make the Baja Bowl ahead of time?

Storing rice for more than 2 days is not advised. To meal prep this grain bowl in advance, use plain quinoa instead. Cook the quinoa ahead of time. It is good for 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Thaw the corn for serving by running it under warm water for a few minutes in a sieve. Cook the black beans beforehand and store for up to 5 days, or use canned beans. The sauce is good for up to 5 days.

Can I use a different sauce for a non-spicy Baja Bowl?

This grain bowl pairs well with my Everything Cashew Sauce, as well as this 5-Minute Lemon Herb Tahini recipe on my site.

What is in a Baja Bowl at Panera?

Cilantro lime brown rice and quinoa, black bean and corn salsa, salsa verde, grape tomatoes, fresh avocado, feta, and Greek yogurt.

📖 Recipe