Vegan Buddha Bowl: An Easy Plant-Based Recipe

Vegan buddha bowls are more than a colorful bowl-full of ingredients – they are healthy, full of nutrition, and totally delicious. Learn how to make one here.

You may have pictures of buddha bowls spamming your social media these days. They are rising in popularity, and for good reason. A buddha bowl is much more than an aesthetically pleasing meal – it’s a one-dish meal that consists of different elements: a grain, roasted veggies, a tahini-based dressing, a protein and a healthy fat. The grain can be brown rice or quinoa, the protein source can be tofu, lentils, chickpeas or beans and the healthy fat can be either an avocado or your favorite nut or mix of seeds. Due to the fact that there is no specific recipe, you can easily make a vegan buddha bowl using your favorite ingredients. 

Health Benefits of Buddha Bowls

If made right, vegan buddha bowls can provide you with all the nutrition required to get you through the day. Vegan buddha bowls are credited with incorporating all the essential elements of a healthy and nutritious plant-based meal: lean protein, whole grains, vegetables, and healthy fats. This makes buddha bowls a source of clean eating and really healthy, especially for a vegan diet.

Healthy Vegan Buddha Bowl Recipe

This vegan buddha bowl recipe uses all the elements of a healthy and nutritious plant-based, one-dish meal, that can be adjusted to exactly your liking and cravings. 

Follow these steps for our vegan buddha bowl recipe and start getting creative in the kitchen:

1. Build your base: The base of your vegan buddha bowl should start with one cup of a grain or pulse of your choosing. We recommend either brown rice or quinoa.
2. Add your veggies: You can go a bit crazy here, and add any or all of your favorite vegetables.  Chop veggies into sizeable chunks and toss them into a roasting dish. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and flavor them with some paprika, cumin, and turmeric. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes at 355F, or until the vegetables are tender and golden.
3. Pack in the protein: Add your choice of protein, whether that be chunks of seasoned tofu, edamame beans, or chickpeas.
4. Get saucy: A tahini dressing is the way to go for a vegan buddha bowl. In a dish, mix a ½ cup of tahini with two tablespoons lemon juice and two to four tablespoons water. Mix until well combined, adding more water if needed. Drizzle on top of your delicious meal. 
5. Don’t forget your fat: To top off your vegan buddha bowl by adding a healthy fat like an avocado, cashew nuts or sprinkle over with pumpkin, sesame, or sunflower seeds. 

Mix Up Your Buddha Bowl

The beauty of vegan buddha bowls is that you can mix up the recipe to exactly how you want it. Each element can be altered to your cravings that day and leave room for lots of fun experimentation with flavors and textures in this healthy one-dish wonder. 

What’s more, because buddha bowls are so versatile, they are a great way of keeping it seasonal and sourcing locally. If you want an especially fresh and healthy dinner then shop at your local farmer’s market for the freshest, local and seasonal ingredients that will only make your vegan buddha bowl taste that much better. Not to mention support your own health, the health of the planet, and your local community. 

Here are just some suggestions of how you could mix up your vegan buddha bowl:

• Switch up the veggies: We all have our favorite veggies, but why not take this as an opportunity to try out new vegetables. It is also the perfect opportunity to fill your vegan buddha bowl with what is being locally and organically grown in your local area. So just see what is seasonal, and take it from there. 
• Try different proteins: There are so many choices of plant-based proteins to choose from. Switch tofu for smoked tempeh, or spice up your chickpeas by roasting them with spices. 
• Change the grain: You could get bored of brown rice and quinoa fairly quickly. Why not substitute for couscous, or even cauliflower rice.
• Experiment with the sauce: Tahini dressing is super versatile, and can be combined with any fun and tasty combinations of flavors and ingredients. Try out a green dressing by blending the tahini dressing ingredients with fresh herbs like coriander, parsley, and mint. Or why not head down the spicier route, and combine your tahini dressing with paprika and cayenne pepper to really give your vegan buddha bowl a kick. 

Read more:

• The Vegan Food Pyramid: 6 Steps to a Balanced Vegan Diet
• 8 Benefits of Being Vegan & Potential Drawbacks
• How to Make Crispy Tofu With These 6 Tricks

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Tags: Food Guide Recipes Vegan