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    Home ▸ Vegan Main Dishes

    Healthy Buddha Bowl Recipe Ideas

    Last modified: November 8, 2022. Originally posted: July 23, 2020 By Sophia DeSantis

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Fork getting a bite out of a cream bowl filled with veggies, rice and sauce
    Collage of buddha bowl ingredients and a made bowl with text overlay

    So many options when making a healthy Buddha bowl. Fill it with greens, roasted sweet potatoes, crispy chickpeas then drizzle on sauce for meal perfection!

    Fork in a cream bowl with rice, potatoes, spinach, onion and sauce
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    This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of NOW Foods. The opinions and text are all mine.

    Making component meals is one of my favorite ways to make dinner my whole family will eat. Buddha bowls and macro bowls are the perfect way to build your own bowl, assuring everyone will be happy!

    Ingredients

    These healthy wholesome bowls are a great way to feed your family. They can be made in a variety of ways, and filled with things you love. They are based on a few simple components:

    1. Grains
    2. Veggies and greens
    3. Protein like beans and tofu
    4. Toppings like dressings, nuts and seeds
    Bowls with veggies, rice and a jar with sauce on a wooden table

    The grains

    These are the base of a Buddha bowl. There are so many options when it comes to healthy whole grains. Here are some of our favorite:

    • Rice- we love brown, black and wild rice
    • Quinoa
    • Farro- this is not gluten-free so skip if you can't eat gluten
    • Barley
    • Buckwheat
    • Millet
    • Wheat berries- this is not gluten-free so skip if you can't eat gluten
    • Rye berries- this is not gluten-free so skip if you can't eat gluten

    I like to make a big batch of grains to use throughout the week, as it can last a good 5-6 days. You can make it yourself, see my posts on how to cook rice and how to cook quinoa, or you can buy frozen or precooked at the store.

    The veggies and greens

    The thing I love about Buddha bowls is that you can do them very inexpensive by buying in bulk and using in season produce. When you shop for the season, the produce is cheaper as it's more easily available.

    I love to include both some kind of sautéed green in my Buddha bowls, check out my perfect sautéed spinach, but also other roasted veggies. Like grains, I make my roasted veggies in bulk and use them throughout the week.

    You can also roasted different combinations together so that you can change up the flavor but also not have to roast each type of veggie on it's own. Here are some veggies we love in our Buddha bowls:

    • Spinach
    • Chard
    • Kale
    • Cabbage
    • Sweet potato
    • Mushrooms
    • Zuchhini and squash
    • Eggplant
    • Onions
    • Garlic
    • Peppers
    • Cauliflower
    • Broccoli
    • Radishes

    The protein

    I try and make sure all of our meals include veggies along with the major nutrients we need, carbs, fat and protein. When it comes to protein, there are some plant-based options we love.

    • Black beans- see this easy black bean recipe
    • Pinto beans
    • Great northern beans
    • Chickpeas- see how to cook dry chickpeas
    • Kidney beans
    • Cannellini beans
    • Lentils- look at my post all about making lentils
    • Black eyes peas
    • Tofu
    • Tempeh
    • Seitan- this one is not our favorite but putting it in here because I know people love it

    You can either add the protein plain, since a good sauce over the top is a must in my book, or you can add some flavor.

    I love to make crispy chickpeas with spices and seasonings. Grab my free one page guide below for how to do this and ideas for flavors!

    Click here to subscribe

    If you're making tempeh or tofu, marinating it overnight will help add some great flavor. You can also just bake in the oven with your sauce of choice. This crispy tofu recipe is one of our favorites. We also love making this Greek gyro recipe that uses tempeh and putting it in our Buddha bowls.

    Sauces and toppings

    This is my favorite part of a Buddha bowl! I am a sauce queen and literally cannot get enough. I create them weekly, and have so many options on my website.

    But this new sauce has got to top the list. The base is made with this flavored cashew butter by Now Foods, the Nutty Infusions™ Ginger Wasabi nut butter from NOW®Infusions.

    Two jars of ginger wasabi cashew butter laying next to a blue striped towel

    The cashew base is nice and neutral, and makes room for the spicy but not overwhelming infused flavor. It's easy to make by whisking all the ingredients together and a perfect sauce addition to the bowl. Plus it pairs well with so many veggie combos!

    Glass jar with a thick brown sauce and a spoon

    You can also toss the veggie in the sauce and roast them, use it to marinate tofu or tempeh before you bake it and even coat the beans in it to make crispy chickpeas.

    Here are some other sauce and topping ideas:

    • Teriyaki sauce
    • General Tso sauce
    • Orange "chicken" sauce
    • Spicy cilantro cream
    • Tangy dill sauce
    • Lemon tahini sauce
    • Homemade buffalo sauce
    • Sunflower seeds
    • Pumpkin seeds
    • Sesame seeds
    • Toasted almonds
    • Pine nuts
    • Walnuts
    • Fresh herbs
    • Sprouts

    How To Make a Buddha Bowl

    Once you have decided on the ingredients you want to use, it's really easy to put the bowl together. I like to have my veggies and greens be about half of my bowl, with the other half split even between my grains and protein.

    I also like a heavy dose of sauce. Especially if I am going simple with the veggies and protein.

    1. Make your sauce of choice. Whisk mixing a tan sauce in a white bowl next to ingredients
    2. Roast your veggies. Roasted sweet potato and red onion on a piece of parchment paper
    3. Make your grains. Spoon scooping brown rice out of a pot
    4. If adding protein, make your protein of choice. Glass jar filled with roasted crispy chickpeas
    5. Add the ingredients together in a bowl and enjoy! Fork getting a bite out of a cream bowl filled with veggies, rice and sauce

    Buddha bowl combinations

    While you can mix and match just about anything, here are some flavor combos we have tried and loved:

    • Asian Buddha Bowl- we love using my homemade teriyaki sauce paired with broccoli, mushrooms, sautéed bok choy, crispy chickpeas and rice. This Teriyaki bowl recipe is one example.
    • Mexican inspired Buddha bowl- I roast peppers, onions, mushrooms, potatoes, black beans and mix it with fresh greens on top of quinoa then drizzle with my spicy cilantro cream sauce.
    • Mediterranean Buddha Bowl- I make a big batch of my Greek gyro recipe and mix it with farro, chard, sweet potato and drizzle it with my lemon tahini sauce.
    • Spicy Buddha bowl- I sauté a variety of peppers like jalapeño, serrano, poblano, etc. Then add quinoa and a mix of sauteed greens. For protein I add some crispy tofu and then drizzle it with my homemade buffalo sauce.

    A few other bowls I have on the site are:

    • BBQ Cauliflower Bowl
    • Vegan Carnitas Bowl
    • Zero Waste Buddha Bowl
    • Vegan "Fish" Taco Bowl

    Common Questions

    What makes it a Buddha Bowl?

    The name Buddha bowl come from the bowl being packed high with all the whole some ingredients looking like Buddha's belly.

    How long do Buddha Bowls last in fridge?

    I would suggest making the parts and storing them separately, then mixing them in bowls fresh when you are ready to eat. The ingredients are good in the fridge for about 5-7 days depending on what they are.

    Are Buddha Bowls healthy?

    Yes! The base of a Buddha bowl is grains, veggies and protein. All healthy parts of a well balanced meal!

    Is a Buddha bowl a salad?

    A salad is a little different as the base is usually a large amount of fresh greens, where a Buddha bowl is more an equal proportion of grains, veggies and protein.

    How do you eat a Buddha Bowl?

    Since it is served piled high in a bowl, you eat it with a fork like you would a salad.

    What if I forget to soak the chickpeas?

    You can always use the quick soak method if you forget. Learn how to quick soak in this post all about cooking dried chickpeas.

    Click here to subscribe
    Fork in a cream bowl with rice, potatoes, spinach, onion and sauce

    Healthy Buddha Bowl Recipe Ideas

    Sophia DeSantis
    So many options when making a healthy Buddha bowl. Fill it with greens, roasted sweet potatoes, crispy chickpeas then drizzle on sauce for meal perfection!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    30 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main Course, Sauce
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 2
    Calories 325 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 cup cooked brown rice , can sub with grain of choice
    • 1 cup cut sweet potato
    • ½ pound fresh spinach
    • ½ cup sliced red onion
    • Drizzle of oil for roasting/sautéing , or broth if oil free
    • Pinch of sea salt , optional
    • Crispy chickpeas , optional for extra protein
    • 6 tablespoons Creamy Ginger Cashew Sauce , see recipe

    Creamy Ginger Cashew Sauce:

    • ¼ cup veggie broth , low-sodium if needed
    • ¼ cup cashew butter , see note (I used the Nutty Infusions™ Ginger Wasabi nut butter from NOW®)
    • 2 tablespoons Tamari or Soy Sauce , low-sodium if needed
    • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger , can use fresh if preferred (add an extra ½ teaspoon for added ginger flavor)
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

    Instructions
     

    • If your rice isn’t cooked yet, put it on the stove so it can cook while you prepare the other parts.
    • Preheat the oven to 450 F/ 230 C
    • Add the potato and red onion to a parchment lined baking sheet. Drizzle with oil or broth and pinch of salt, if using. You can also add chickpeas if using. I like to keep all thing separate on the baking sheet.
    • Bake for 30 minutes. Take out the onion at about 15 minutes if you like it on the less cooked side.
    • Meanwhile, sauté the spinach with the oil/broth until wilted. About 3-4 minutes.
    • Then make sauce by adding all ingredients into a small pot and whisking over low heat until mixed and thickened. About 2-3 minutes.
    • Add the rice to the bottom of a bowl. Top with veggies and chickpeas, if using. Drizzle with sauce and devour!

    Notes

    • Sauce makes about ¾ cup. Save the rest to use as a dip or with another meal.
    • You can also use another nut butter but the flavor will change slightly.
    • Mix and match ingredients however you want.

    Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 325kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 10gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 433mgPotassium: 1080mgFiber: 7gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 20068IUVitamin C: 39mgCalcium: 164mgIron: 5mg

    Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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