Buddha Bowl: Your Perfect Summer Meal
Looking for a light and refreshing meal that’s chock full of your favorite veggies and nutrients? The buddha bowl might be the perfect summer dish!
Jump to RecipeDuring the hot, active months of summer, there’s nothing better than a nourishing meal that keeps you going without weighing you down. And if you’re tired of salad, the buddha bowl can be a perfect, healthy option for lunch or dinner. Just toss a few choice ingredients together for a meal everyone will love. Be sure to share your easy meal ideas on your favorite family app!
What Is a Buddha Bowl?
A buddha bowl, also known as a dinner bowl, sunshine bowl, or even macro bowl, is simply a meal with various grains, veggies, and proteins. They’re usually vegetarian or vegan, but you could add chicken or beef for an extra dose of protein. Not surprisingly, buddha bowls are aptly named after the belly of Buddha himself as their roundness can resemble it!
You can tailor the bowls to suit your palate or nutritional needs, and since it’s so versatile. So enjoy it as a hot meal or a cold salad-like dish, depending on the ingredients. All in all, this easily portable dish is the perfect food for summer!
What Do You Put in a Buddha Bowl?
There’s almost nothing you can’t do with this dinner bowl, depending on your taste preferences! As a rule of thumb, every buddha bowl has the following ingredients you’ll want to fill it with.
- Vegetables – You can use any vegetables you have in the kitchen for this delicious dish. Try an Asian-inspired Banh Mi bowl with cucumbers and cabbage if you’re in the mood for something light. A root veggie bowl filled with roasted veggies like sweet potatoes and carrots might hit the spot if you want something heartier. Vegetables baked in olive oil can add just the right amount of healthy fat!
- Grains – It’s best to opt for healthy, whole grains that will fill you up and keep your hunger in check. Choose buddha bowl basics like brown rice, quinoa, barley, or bulgur to get the most out of your bowl! You can white rice if that’s what you have, but it might not fill you up as much as quinoa if you’re really hungry.
- Protein – It’s not a complete meal without a little punch of protein to push you through the day. Try chickpeas, black beans, hummus, or marinated tofu if you’re vegan. If you’re not, serve your bowl with chicken or steak. Share your own dinner bowl ideas on FamilyApp!
- Dressing – Add an extra flavor kick to your meal with some of your favorite flavors like a sriracha sauce or spicy mustard. You can even add toppings like pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, or roasted nuts for a crunchy kick!
Vegan Buddha Bowl
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic minced
- salt to taste
- pepper (to taste) to taste
- 1 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
- 1/2 cup diced sweet potato
- 1/4 cup chickpeas
- 1 cup kale massaged
- 1 fresh radish sliced
- 1 ripe avocado sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley
Instructions
Vegan Buddha Bowl
- Toss sweet potato with 1 tablespoon oil and salt and pepper in a medium bowl.
- Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Roast at 425 °F, stirring once, until tender, 15 to 18 minutes.
- Whisk the 2 tbsp olive oil, tahini, water, lemon juice, garlic, and salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Divide quinoa among 4 bowls. Top with equal amounts of sweet potato, chickpeas, kale, radish and avocado.
- Drizzle with the tahini sauce and sprinkle with parsley (or cilantro).
Nutrition
What Are the Best Buddha Bowl Recipes?
There’s no limit to the exciting flavors you can create using our healthy dinner bowl ideas. Try one of these great recipes today and share them on your favorite family app!
- Falafel Bowl – If you like your falafel without the pita, try this spicy chickpea treat in its own buddha bowl. All you need to dress it up is some veggies, greens, the grain of your choice, and tahini!
- Bahn Mi Bowl – Try your favorite Vietnamese sub in a healthy bowl instead. Add tofu, rice noodles, pickled carrots, cucumber, and a spicy dressing for one of the best veggie bowl ideas. You can even add a little sriracha for an extra kick.
- Mexican Bean Bowl – A few choice ingredients make this buddha bowl easy! Use sweet potatoes, roasted peppers, and black beans, and add crunchy cabbage and avocado for a filling treat. For an extra protein boost, throw in some chicken, pork, or beef.Grain-Free Tahini Bowl- If you’re avoiding grains, try an alternative combining roast sweet potatoes, broccolini, kale, and chickpeas. Top with tahini dressing for a rich flavor.
The flexible nature of buddha bowls means you can have a delicious, simple meal without a ton of meal prep! Do you have any easy buddha bowl ideas? Share your favorites with other cooks in our comments, and enjoy tweaking your favorite combos!
