I’m so excited to share this recipe today. In fact, I wouldn’t even consider this strictly a recipe. It’s like a “how to,” meets a recipe, meets veggie-goodness-inspiration.

My favorite blogs and recipes are the ones that have room for customization and inspire me to experiment. Yes, with baking, sticking to a recipe is pretty important especially the first time you make it. But with a lot of cooking, adding your favorite spices and little touches can make the meal uniquely yours.

So today’s post is all about making a meal your own.

So what the heck is a Buddha Bowl?

To be honest I forget first time I heard the term “Buddha Bowl” but I’m sure it was at a slightly hippy-ish vegan café (that I probably loved, I really love hippy vegan cafés).

I did a little “research”(aka searched the Google machine > here, here and here)  and it doesn’t appear there’s a universal agreement on what exactly a “Buddha Bowl” has to be. But from my memory and experience with these deliciously wholesome bowls of food, they all included a variety of veggies, healthy fats and vegetarian protein. They don’t have to be 100% warm or cold, in fact one of the wonderful things is the variety of temperatures as well as textures.

Another distinct element of the Buddha Bowl is the dressing or sauce. A great sauce for your Buddha bowl is some variation of a tahini sauce. I also really enjoy Thai peanut dressings or creamy ginger dressings.

Anatomy of  Buddha Bowl

1. Choose a special bowl
2. Start with a Base Layer of Greens
3. Add a Variety of Veggies & Beans
4. Top with Grains, Nuts & Seeds
5. Dress with Your Favorite Sauce/Dressing
6. Eat mindfully enjoying all the flavors and textures
7. Enjoy the good vibes from a happy belly

What I Love About Buddha Bowls

• So satisfying. You basically can add whatever veggies/nut/seeds/grains you’re loving at the moment and/or whatever is in season.
• It’s a great way to fit Carbs, Proteins and Healthy Fats into one meal (plus fiber, and vitamins/minerals and all the goodness that comes with eating whole nutrient dense foods)
• It’s a great way to be mindful about what you’re eating
• You feel almost as happy as a Buddha (maybe just me)
• Perfect having tons of leftovers (that you can mix and match with)

How to Assemble Your Buddha Bowl

Gather and prep your Buddha Bowl ingredients. Add the ingredients you want warmed into your bowl first. Heat them, then add cold ingredients and top with your sauce.

For My Bowl I Used:

Warm

• 1 small sweet potato (roasted for 45 mins at 400F w/ coconut oil and garlic salt)
• 1/3 C of cooked quinoa (how to cook quinoa)
• 1/4 C of black beans
• 1/2 C of shredded carrots

Cold

• 1/2 C of Arugala
• 1/2 small avocado

Dressing

• I used garlic hummus, but I’ve used tahini sauce in the past
• I also added a touch of seasame oil & garlic mustard

More Ideas for Buddha Bowls

• Greens: kale, spinach, arugala
• Veggies: squash, broccoli, carrots, peppers, roasted eggplant, brussels sprouts, beets
• Grains: quinoa, brown rice, wheat berries, farro
• Protein: tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, beans, edamame
• Healthy Fats: avocado, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas

If you loved this recipe you’ll love:

The Vegan Breakfast Sandwich

Winter Kale Salad with Almond Butter Dressing

Avocado Quinoa Harvest Bowl

 

Follow me on Instagram for more healthy meal ideas & recipes

Your Turn

• Do you have any special bowls?
• Have you ever had a Buddha Bowl before (whether or not you’d heard the term)?
• Your thoughts on hippy vegan restaurants (don’t worry I won’t be offended)?

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