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Made with the most flavor-packed sauce (which one reader said she was “blown away by”), this is how to build a Buddha bowl! You can totally customize the fillings and topping for a choose-your-own-adventure kind of recipe that also doubles as meal prep.
save this recipe!After ordering nearly every Buddha bowl (which you might also hear called a grain bowl, macro bowl, or hippie bowl) on the menu at local restaurants, I felt I was highly qualified to make it at home. They are packed with flavor and tons of plant-based nutrients, both Live Eat Learn staples!
Buddha bowls can take some time, but this one is ready in just 15 minutes and makes the perfect lunch meal prep. I’m here to show you the basic blueprint of a stellar bowl. If you don’t like one topping, simply swap it with another. The bowl you create is only limited by your imagination!
Reader rating
“WOW! I was nervous about the flavours, but MAN, was I blown away by this. The sauce works perfectly! An instant weekly favourite.” —Richie
Buddha Bowl Basics
At its core, the Buddha bowl is just a big bowl of healthy food, mostly plants, served over a bed of greens or grains and topped with a dressing. Buddha bowls usually contain:
- Greens: Like spinach or kale.
- Protein: Like chickpeas, black beans, or other beans.
- Grains: Like bulgur, quinoa, lentils, or brown rice.
- Healthy carbs: Helloooo fruit! This could also be veggies like cucumber, broccoli, or cauliflower for something a little lower in carbs but still filling. Sweet potato is also one of my favorites for a warm bowl!
- Healthy fats: Avocado or nuts will do the trick.
- Extras: Flavorful additions like onions, nutritional yeast, or spices. And, of course, a great sauce! In this case, that’s a yogurt-based dressing.
here’s what you do
Step 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.
Step 2: Add Plant-based Protein
Next, add some healthy plant-based protein! You can use protein-packed chickpeas, healthy legumes, crispy tofu, chickpea “tuna” salad, or even boiled eggs.
Step 3: Healthy Grains Next
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.
Step 4: Add 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.
Step 5: Add Healthy Fats
Round out the macronutrient profile of your veggie Buddha bowls by adding some healthy fats, like avocado, nuts, or seeds. I love using sesame seeds, peanuts, or almonds, depending on the bowl’s vibes.
Step 6: Extras and Sauce
Finally, throw on the extras! These can be flavorful additions like red onion, nutritional yeast, fresh herbs like basil, spice blends (I love sprinkling on the Trader Joe’s Umami Blend), or more veggies, or other roasted vegetables for a warm version!
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, a peanut sauce, or your favorite salad dressing.
Easy Buddha Bowls (15 Minute Recipe)
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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information calculated by Sarah Bond, degreed nutritionist.
did you make this?Leave a comment below and tag @liveeatlearn on social media! I love seeing what you’ve made!
Going to try this it looks yummy
WOW! I was nervous about the flavours, but MAN, was I blown away by this. The sauce works perfectly! An instant weekly favourite.
YAY! So happy to hear it, Richie! 😀
this is a wonderful recipe, this helped me a lot. i have made my first budha bowl! thank you sara!
Love hearing this, thanks for being here!