Name: Copycat Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl with Spicy Cashew Dressing
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp paprika; ¾ tsp onion powder; ¾ tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp thyme; ½ tsp oregano; ¼ tsp cayenne; ½ tsp pepper; 1 tsp salt; 1 lb chicken tenderloins or breast ((if you're using chicken breast, beat it down to 1/4 inch thick)); 1 tbsp blackening seasoning ((recipe above)); cooking spray; 1 cup puffed rice cereal; 2 tsp low-sodium tamari ((sub soy sauce or coconut aminos)); ½ tbsp blackening seasoning ((recipe above)); ½ tsp dried ginger; ⅓ cup raw cashews; 1 cup cilantro, loosely packed; 2 cloves garlic; 1 inch fresh ginger; 2 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tbsp sesame oil; 1 tbsp maple syrup ((sub honey or date syrup)); ½ tsp red pepper flakes (+ more to taste); juice from 1 lime; ¼ cup water ((plus more to thin as desired)); salt + pepper to taste; arugula; shredded red cabbage; shredded carrots; sliced & halved cucumber

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This Copycat Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl with Spicy Cashew Dressing is a homemade, cheaper version of the best bowl that Sweetgreen offers. After my first time trying the original bowl, I was totally hooked and knew I had to recreate it. Save yourself $14 by making it at home using this recipe!

If you’ve never had the Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl, let me start by saying that you are missing out on life. For a while, I was hesitant to try it because I already had my “go to” Sweetgreen order; shroomami bowl with chicken instead of tofu. After seeing so many friends order the Crispy Rice Bowl, I finally took the risk and tried it. It was a love at first sight. Not only is the dressing absolute spicy perfection, but the textures of the fresh veggies and crispy rice just make it a magical experience.

Making this Copycat Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl with Spicy Cashew Dressing may seem a bit intimidating, but I promise it’s not that hard! Make your life easier by buying pre-shredded carrots and cabbage. You can also buy and use a store-bought blackening season (for the chicken and crispy rice), if you prefer. Once all your ingredients are assembled, the process of making the dressing, crispy rice and blackened chicken is pretty quick. Double, triple or quadruple this recipe to have on hand all week along…it’s a great meal prep option!

What You Need to Make Copycat Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl

Arugula: Arugula is the base of this bowl which adds so much peppery flavor on it’s own!
Shredded Cabbage: Getting our daily dose of cruciferous veggies in! Adds a really great, crisp texture. Highly recommend buying pre-shredded.
Shredded Carrots: Pre-shredded here again, for convenience.
Cucumber: Sliced and halved cucumber is one of the many veggies in this bowl.
Rice: To make this a balanced bowl, we add rice as our carb source. Typically, Sweetgreen uses wild rice but I used white rice as that was all I had. Feel free to use whatever kind you prefer!
Sliced Almonds: Although not necessary, these do add a nice little crunch on top and some extra healthy fats.
Chicken Tenderloins: You can also use chicken breasts or thighs, but cooking time may vary.
Puffed Rice Cereal: Sounds crazy, I know, but just trust me. It really resembles the Sweetgreen crispy rice!
Blackening Seasoning: I used a homemade version (recipe below) but to save time and energy, you can also use a store-bought one.
Dried Ginger: This gets added to the crispy rice mixture along with the blackening seasoning and tamari.
Tamari: Basically, a gluten-free version of soy sauce. You could also use soy sauce or coconut aminos instead.
Olive Oil: To cook the chicken in.

What You Need to Make Spicy Cashew Dressing

Raw Cashews: Cashews are the base of the dressing and make it super creamy! You could try substituting it for the same amount of cashew butter.
Cilantro: Lots and lots of it!
Garlic: A recipe is not a recipe without garlic.
Fresh Ginger: Fresh ginger is key here, it gives the dressing an extra zing!
Rice Vinegar: If you don’t have this on hand, try substituting with apple cider vinegar.
Sesame Oil: Gives it the perfect, earthy and nutty flavor.
Maple Syrup: A touch of maple syrup to balance out the heat. Substitute with any other liquid sweetener (honey, date syrup, etc).
Red Pepper Flakes: This is how the dressing gets spicy! Start with 1/2 tsp and add more as desired.
Lime Juice: A little acidity in dressing is always a must.
Water: To thin out the dressing to the consistency you prefer.
Salt + Pepper: as much or as little as you’d like.

How To Make Copycat Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl with Spicy Cashew Dressing

The first step is to gather all your ingredients. This will make the process go much smoother and feel less intimidating. Start by cooking the rice according to package directions. Next, if you are making homemade blackening seasoning, combine all the spices in a small bowl and set aside. Then, soak the cashews in boiling water for about 15 minutes in order to soften them. Once soft, drain the water and add the cashews along with the rest of the dressing ingredients to a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth, adding more water as needed.

Next, preheat a large, dry pan over medium heat. Add all of the crispy rice ingredients to a small bowl and toss to coat. Once the pan is hot, add the crispy rice mixture and cook, stirring occasionally for about 3-5 minutes or until it’s getting crispy and golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.

In the same pan, add a bit of olive oil. Then, combine all of the blackened chicken ingredients in a small bowl, making sure each of the tenderloins/breasts are well coated. Next, add the chicken to the hot pan and let it cook for about 3-5 minutes on each side (if you’re using chicken breast, it will probably take closer to 6-8 minutes per side) or until golden and cooked through. Timing may vary depending on the size of your chicken. Lastly, transfer cooked chicken to a cutting board and chop into cubes.

Finally, assemble your Copycat Sweetgreen Crispy Rice bowl by starting with a bed of arugula, cooked rice, a handful of shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, cucumbers, crispy rice, blackened chicken, chopped almonds, cilantro, a lime wedge and a drizzle of the Spicy Cashew Dressing. Dig in!

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