copycat Sweetgreen crispy rice bowl

I am confident this copycat Sweetgreen crispy rice bowl is one of the best salads you will ever eat. It delivers on taste, has all the textures, and is pretty simple to throw together. Loaded with colorful veggies, fluffy rice, crispy rice, blackened tofu, and the most delicious spicy cashew dressing will have your tastebuds happy dancing. It’ll also make leftovers so you can make these bowls during the week (doubles as a meal prep, hello!).

Why you’ll love this recipe

• There are a few components to this recipe, but they’re VERY simple.
• Comes together in under 30 minutes.
• Makes enough for meal preps throughout the week!
• Nutrient dense
• Will save you money from buying Sweetgreen 😉

What makes this Sweetgreen crispy rice bowl so healthy?

This rice bowl is packed with nutrient dense ingredients that are proven to boost immune function, fight free radicals, and reduce inflammation. Let’s take a look at some of the star components:

• Arugula: A cruciferous veggie packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Llike an impressive amount of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin K, folate, proven to reduce cancer risk, protect your heart and eye health, and promote skin health. This is due to it’s high antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory compounds.
• Red cabbage: Red cabbage, in comparison to green cabbage, contains 10x more vitamins, cancer-fighting flavonoids, and antioxidants. Much like our friend Arugula above, red cabbage can help fight disease and support immune function and overall well-being.
• Carrots: Full of beta-carotene, carrots have been shown to promote healthy vision, balance blood sugar, help with weight management, lower your risk of cancer, regulate blood pressure, reduce heart disease, improve immunity, and boost brain health – safe to say you won’t regret adding more of them to your diet!
• Cucumber: With an almost 95% water content, you can consider eating them as a way of hydrating from the inside out. Packed full of antioxidants, cucumbers can aid in detoxifying the body, and can hydrate/aid skin health.
• Cashews: Cashews are a rich source of magnesium, something most people are deficient in, and is vital for bone health. The minerals zinc, copper, and vitamin E can help maintain a strong immune system, while copper can help boost collagen production. This is essential for skin elasticity.
• Garlic: Super antioxidant-rich, filled with a compound called allicin, which is proven to protect against brain damage and aging.

Can these sweetgreen crispy rice bowls be made vegan?

Yes! Today we are using blackened tofu as the protein. You can also use rotisserie or grilled chicken, shrimp, or even salmon.

Ingredients & substitutions to make crispy rice bowls

Crispy puffed rice cereal: Arguably the best part of the bowl. The crispy rice is so simple! You toast the cereal with some avocado oil, coconut aminos, and spices in pan until crispy!
Spicy cashew dressing: You will blend cashew butter, rice vinegar, coconut aminos, ginger, garlic, cilantro, maple syrup, lime, and chili flakes. It is guaranteed to be your new favorite dressing! To make it nut free, try using sunflower seed butter or tahini!
Blackened tofu: The tofu is coked in avocado oil until golden. Then it is tossed in a blackening seasoning made of paprika, garlic, coconut aminos or tamari, chili powder, and pepper. If you don’t want to use tofu, feel free to use grilled or rotisserie chicken, shrimp, or even salmon (cooked to your preference).
Greens: You can feel free to switch up the greens to whatever you like. If you don’t love arugula, try using spinach, mixed greens, etc.

How to store Meal prep crispy rice bowls and how to store leftover components

• Extra rice: Store in a tupperware container in the fridge.
• Extra crispy rice: Store at room temperature in an air-tight container.
• Salad base: Chop all of your veggies and store them in air-tight containers in the fridge.
• Spicy cashew dressing: Blend a batch of the dressing and store in a tupperware container or mason jar in the fridge.

More healthy recipes to try

• Healthy chicken pot pie soup (vegan option)
• Vegan broccoli cheese soup
• French onion spaghetti squash
• Vegan nicoise salad
• Crispy balsamic tofu salad

Copycat Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl

I am confident this copycat Sweetgreen crispy rice bowl is one of the best salads you will ever eat. It delivers on taste, has all the textures, and is pretty simple to throw together. Loaded with colorful veggies, fluffy rice, crispy rice, blackened tofu, and the most delicious spicy cashew dressing will have your tastebuds happy dancing. It'll also make leftovers so you can make these bowls during the week (doubles as a meal prep, hello!).

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course dinner, lunch, Snack

Ingredients

  

Crispy rice

• 1 cup puffed rice cereal
• 1 1/2 tbsp avocado oil
• 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/3 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp ginger powder
• 3/4 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp tamari

Spicy cashew dressing

• 1/3 cup cashew butter
• 1 cup cilantro
• 1 quarter size knob of ginger
• 1 1/2 tbsp sesame oil
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tbsp red chili flakes
• Juice of 1 lime
• 2 tsp sea salt (more if desired)
• water, as needed to thin

Rice

• 1/2 cup white rice
• 1 cup veggie broth

Blackened tofu

• 1 block of extra firm tofu (I like to use high protein)
• 2 tbsp avocado oil
• 1/4 cup coconut aminos or liquid aminos (Can sub soy sauce)
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

To assemble the salad

• Arugala
• 1/3 cup chooped red cabbage
• 1/4 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced cucumber
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/3 cup cooked rice
• 1 serving blackened tofu
• 1/2 cup crispy rice
• 1 Lime, for squeezing over top
• 2 tbsp chopped cashews or slivered /chopped almonds

Instructions

 

Rice

• Cook your rice according to the package instructions. Instead of using water, I like to cook mine in broth to add some extra flavor.

Spicy cashew dressing

• Simply add everything to a blender and blend until completely smooth. Taste and adjust as you'd like. Pour into a mason jar and place in the fridge until ready to use.

Crispy

• Add all ingredients to a hot pan over medium-high heat. Cook a few minutes until golden and crispy. Set aside.

Blackened tofu

• I recommend using high protein tofu as you don't have to drain it, but if you're using regular firm tofu, be sure to press it to remove the excess water. Then, cut the tofu into small cubes.
• Add one tbsp of oil to the same pan that you cooked the crispy rice in. Add the tofu, tossing it every so often until it begins to golden on all sides.
• While it's cooking, add the remaining tbsp of oil, soy sauce, an spices to a small bowl. Mix well. Once the tofu is almost all golden, pour the seasoning mixture over top. Toss well, cooking a couple more minutes until they're browned.

Assembling the salad

• Add all of the salad ingredients to a large bowl, topping it with the crispy rice and blackened tofu. Squeeze over some lime and some spicy cashew dressing. Enjoy!

Keyword cashew dressing, copycat recipe, crispy rice, healthy dinner, healthy lunch, healthy salad, nourish bowl, rice bowl, sweetgreen