How To Build Buddha Bowls (15 Minute Recipe) (2024)

This 15 Minute Buddha Bowls recipe, with healthy grains, chickpeas, fruit, and avocado, is a balanced, healthy meal that comes together in no time!

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At this point we can all agree that Buddha Bowls aren’t going away anytime soon right? I mean, how can a bowl full of healthy goodness ever go out of fashion?

So today I’m showing you how to make a basic Buddha Bowl (which you might also hear called a grain bowl, macro bowl or hippie bowl)! The general concept is that they’re a completely balanced, usually plant-based meal…in a bowl!

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What is in a Buddha Bowl?

At it’s core, the Budda Bowl is just a big bowl or healthy food, mostly plants, served over a bed of greens or grains and topped with a dressing. Buddha Bowls usually contain:

  1. Greens: like spinach or kale
  2. Protein: like chickpeas or other beans
  3. Grains: like bulgur, quinoa, or brown rice
  4. Healthy carbs: helloooo fruit!
  5. Healthy fats: avocado or nuts
  6. Extras: flavorful additions like onions, nutritional yeast, or spices
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1. Pick a leafy green

First up, pick a leafy green for your Buddha Bowls! I love using spinach, which is packed with nutrients while still being light and tender, but you could also use kale, romaine, arugula, or iceberg lettuce.

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2. Plant-based protein

Next, add some healthy plant-based protein! This will transform these vegetarian Buddha Bowls from “side salad” to “filling meal”. You can use protein-packed chickpeas, healthy legumes, crispy tofu, chickpea “tuna” salad, or even boiled eggs.

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3. Healthy Grains

Adding a healthy grain or starch will make these Buddha Bowls all the more filling while packing in even more healthy nutrients and fiber. You can use fiber-rich quinoa, brown rice, bulgur, farro, or couscous.

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4. Healthy Carbs

Fruit on a salad? Yes, friends! And once you try it there’s no going back. A handful of fresh berries, a few slices of mandarin oranges, sliced apples, or halved grapes are all delicious in your healthy homemade Buddha Bowls. As a rule of thumb, more colors = more diverse nutrients (so make it a rainbow masterpiece!)

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5. Healthy Fats

Round out the macronutrient profile of your veggie Buddha Bowls by adding some healthy fats, like avocado, nuts, or seeds.

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6. Extras

Finally, throw on the extras! These can be flavorful additions like red onion, nutritional yeast, spice blends (I love sprinkling on the Trader Joe’s Umami Blend), or more veggies, like baked onions!

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What sauce is best for buddha bowls?

We’re drizzling these particular Buddha Bowls with a sweet and savory yogurt sauce, but you can also top your bowls with: Yumm Sauce, Romesco Sauce, Blueberry Vinaigrette, or your favorite salad dressing.

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Buddha Bowl FAQs

Why is it called a Buddha Bowl? Buddha Bowls are named for their big, round shape, like a Buddha belly! But being full of delicious food is about the only thing required to qualify something as a Buddha Bowl, and many people have a different take on what they consider a Buddha Bowl!

Is a Buddha Bowl hot or cold? Both! While this version is mostly cold, there are some that are served hot (like this Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowl).

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How To Build Buddha Bowls (15 Minute Recipe)

4.94 from 16 votes

Prep: 15 minutes minutes

Total: 15 minutes minutes

Calories: 465kcal

Servings: 4 servings

Print Rate

This 15 Minute Buddha Bowls recipe is a balanced, healthy meal that comes together in no time! It’s a flavorful combo of healthy grains, chickpeas, fruit and avocado with a creamy, citrusy yogurt dressing.

Ingredients

Yogurt Dressing

  • ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt 60 g, or dairy-free alternative
  • ¼ cup orange juice 60 mL
  • 2 Tbsp honey 30 g, can sub maple syrup or agave
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt and pepper

Buddha Bowl Fillings

  • 2 handfuls leafy greens spinach, kale, or lettuce
  • 1 cup cooked grains quinoa, couscous, bulgur, or brown rice
  • 1 15-oz can chickpeas 425 g, drained and rinsed
  • 1 cup blueberries 100 g
  • 4 mandarin oranges peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 avocados sliced
  • ¼ red onion about ½ cup, sliced
  • 2 carrots peeled and shredded

Instructions

  • Dressing: Whisk all dressing ingredients together and set aside.

  • Filling: Divide greens into 4 servings bowls, then top each with equal portions of cooked grains, chickpeas, blueberries, oranges, avocado, onion, and carrot.

  • Serve: Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately.

Tips & Tricks

We’re drizzling these particular Buddha Bowls with yogurt sauce, but you can also top your bowls with: Yumm Sauce, Romesco Sauce, Blueberry Vinaigrette, or your favorite salad dressing.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1serving Calories: 465kcal (23%) Carbohydrates: 74.7g (25%) Protein: 12.8g (26%) Fat: 14.4g (22%) Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) Cholesterol: 3mg (1%) Sodium: 327mg (14%) Potassium: 1011mg (29%) Fiber: 12.7g (53%) Sugar: 20.9g (23%) Calcium: 117mg (12%) Iron: -30mg (-167%)

Did You Make This?

Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!

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How To Build Buddha Bowls (15 Minute Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

How to assemble a buddha bowl? ›

How do you make a Buddha bowl?
  1. Choose a grainy base. Fill the bottom of a large (2- to 3-cups is ideal) bowl ⅓ of the way with hot or cold whole grains, like brown rice, bulgur, barley, quinoa, or polenta. ...
  2. Pile on the veggies. ...
  3. Add legumes. ...
  4. Sprinkle with crunch and flavor. ...
  5. Drizzle with sauce.
Jan 15, 2020

What are the 5 components of a buddha bowl? ›

In general, there are five basic elements to a buddha bowl.
  • Whole grains.
  • Vegetables.
  • Protein.
  • Sauce/dressing.
  • Toppings.
Aug 15, 2022

What does a buddha bowl contain? ›

A Buddha bowl is a vegetarian meal, served on a single bowl or high-rimmed plate, which consists of small portions of several foods, served cold. These may include whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice, plant proteins such as chickpeas or tofu, and vegetables.

What goes well in a rice bowl? ›

Protein – Next up, your choice of protein. You'll find rice bowls made with chicken, beef, seafood, and more, plus plant-based protein like tempeh and tofu. Veggies – Pair your proteins with fresh, steamed, or roasted veggies, sauteed vegetables, and fresh greens. Arugula, kale, and spinach are all great options.

What is the difference between a macro bowl and a buddha bowl? ›

Macro Bowls: Nourish Bowl: also called Nourishment Bowls, are filled with simple, nutrient-dense ingredients to make a filling meal. Buddha Bowls: also called Hippie, Glory, or Sunshine Bowls, are often vegan or vegetarian (think: plant-based proteins), but meat is included in some recipes.

Are Buddha bowls healthy? ›

Buddha bowls are filling, healthy and fun meals that pack most of the nutrients your body needs. Preparing Buddha bowls can be a relaxing activity with a very rewarding payoff: you get a delicious and balanced meal that will enrich your day, body and soul, overall health and your Instagram/Pinterest feed.

Why are Buddha bowls so good? ›

There were no processed foods at this time, so it was likely to be simple and healthy – maybe a few beans, grains, vegetables, or stew. Buddha bowls are based on this principle of simplicity – a nutritionally and energetically balanced meal based on what is available, with fairly minimal prep.

Does a buddha bowl have meat? ›

The evolved Buddha Bowl is still vegetarian (though nobody's going to call the food police if you add meat or fish to the mix), an artistic endeavor on a canvas of whole grains. Veggies, lean protein like tofu and nuts are beautifully arranged, a tangy dressing drizzled on each masterpiece.

What is the legend of the Buddha bowl? ›

"Buddha woke up before dawn every morning and carried his bowl through the roads or paths wherever he was staying. Local people would place food in the bowl as a donation, and at the end he would eat whatever he had been given," explains Zigmond.

What is the origin of a Buddha Bowl? ›

Estimated to have lived in the sixth- to fourth-centuries BC, Buddha is said to have taken his bowl, every morning, looking for charity from nearby houses. The householders would put bits of food that they could spare into his bowl, so his breakfast was a collection of leftovers.

What is the bowl Buddha holds? ›

Arms bent at elbows, holding an alms bowl at chest level. This statue signifies compassion and caring for all beings. Contrary to what many think, monks (and the Buddha) did NOT beg for food. Instead, they collected alms.

What are Buddhist bowls called? ›

Standing bells are known by a wide variety of terms in English, and are sometimes referred to as bowls, basins, cups or gongs. Specific terms include resting bell, prayer bowl, Buddha bowl, Himalayan bowl, Tibetan bell, rin gong, bowl gong and cup gong.

How to build a food bowl? ›

Here are the 6 simple steps to building the perfect nourish bowl:
  1. Step 1 — start with a base of good quality carbohydrates. ...
  2. Step 2 — Top your base with 2–3 cups of salad greens for loads of nutrient rich goodness. ...
  3. Step 3 — Continue the build with half a cup of protein. ...
  4. Step 4 — More veggies!

What rice is best for bowls? ›

You can put almost anything into a rice bowl, however for best results, you should try to include the following key components. Grains: Firstly, you will need a grain base, this can be anything from simple white rice to basmati rice all the way to yellow rice.

What is the healthiest rice? ›

"Black rice has been shown to have the highest level of antioxidants of all rice varieties, due in large part to the anthocyanin content—a powerful anti-inflammatory that gives the grains their dark purplish hue—as well as flavonoids and carotenoids," explains Megan Roosevelt, RDN, LA-based registered dietitian, ...

What are Buddhist bowls for? ›

Struck bowls are used in some Buddhist religious practices to accompany periods of meditation and chanting. Struck and singing bowls are widely used for music making, meditation and relaxation, as well for personal spirituality. They have become popular with music therapists, sound healers and yoga practitioners.

Why are they called Buddha bowls? ›

For some, the name comes from the idea that they resemble the belly of the Buddha. Others believe it comes from the idea that Buddha would carry a bowl with him and people would offer food as a donation. Either way, we know buddha bowls are a great way to get a balanced diet.

Why do Buddhist monks carry bowls? ›

It comes from the disciplinary rules for monks that instruct monks not to engage in agricultural labor, keep only a few possessions and eat only what is offered in their bowls each morning on the alms rounds. There are exceptions to this, such as monks who are too old or ill to go on daily rounds.

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