Healthy & Light Breakfast bowl

Greek Yogurt Grain Bowl

Name: Greek Yogurt Grain Bowl
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 300 g cooked brown rice, warm or at room temperature; 250 g thick Greek yogurt; 1 cucumber, diced; 1 small red onion, finely diced; 2 tomatoes, diced; 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped; 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped; 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 1 lemon, juiced; 1 tsp sumac; Salt and pepper

Brown rice adds chewy substance; thick Greek yogurt adds protein and a cooling tang.

By Dana Reyes

Tested at least twice · Updated September 2026

Greek Yogurt Grain Bowl — A savoury breakfast bowl that takes 15 minutes and keeps you full until lunch.

10 min

Prep time

5 min

Cook time

Serves

4.7

1,128 RATINGS

Why grains and yogurt work together

Brown rice adds chewy substance; thick Greek yogurt adds protein and a cooling tang. Together they make a bowl that feels substantial without being heavy.

The vegetables are raw and quickly dressed, so the whole thing stays fresh. Cucumber, herbs and lemon are the non-negotiables.

Instructions

About 15 min from start to finish

Divide the rice between two bowls and make a well in the centre. Spoon the yogurt into each well.

Scatter the cucumber, red onion, tomatoes and herbs over the top.

Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle with sumac, salt and pepper.

Serve straight away, letting everyone mix the bowl together at the table.

Testing notes & substitutions

Three rounds of testing turned up three things worth knowing before you start cooking.

Cook rice ahead

Cook a big batch of brown rice at the start of the week. This bowl comes together in minutes with leftovers.

Protein boost

Add a boiled egg, chickpeas or a spoonful of hummus on top.

Make it dairy-free

Use a thick coconut yogurt. The flavour changes but the cooling contrast stays.

Questions we get a lot

Can I use white rice?

Yes, but brown rice has more fibre and a better nutty flavour for this bowl.

What is sumac?

A tangy, lemony Middle Eastern spice. Lemon zest is a decent substitute.

How long does it keep?

Assembled, it is best eaten immediately. Components keep separately for 3 days.

Dana Reyes

Dana has cooked professionally for eleven years and has been testing recipes for Hearth & Thyme since 2019. She writes about weeknight cooking, slow breads, and the small techniques that quietly change a dish. Every recipe she publishes is cooked at least twice, in an ordinary home oven.