How to Build a Buddha Bowl and 20 of our most popular Buddha Bowl Recipes from 2020 – all plant-based, vegan-adaptable, and loaded up with healthy veggies, whole grains and plant protein. Globally inspired, these nourishing bowls are packed full of flavor!

The Gods created certain kinds of beings to replenish our bodies; they are the trees and the plants and the seeds. ~Plato

Essential Ingredients of a Buddha Bowl: 

A Buddha bowl is essentially a simple, one-bowl meal, typically vegetarian or vegan that includes rice, legumes, fresh vegetables, and plant proteins. Often they are served cold, but some versions are served with a warm base.

1. whole grain or rice
2. Tofu, Tempeh, Seitan or plant-based protein like beans or legumes
3. Fresh or roasted vegetables
4. Greens or sprouts
5. Sauce or Dressing
6. Nuts or seeds!

How to build a buddha bowl:

The best Buddha bowls start with a base of rice or whole grains which can be served cold or warm. Top with plant-based protein ( tofu, seitan, edamame, beans), then greens and fresh veggies. Next, drizzle with dressing or sauce and sprinkle with seeds or nuts. Top with fresh sprouts.

20 Buddha Bowl Recipes:

You’ve been telling me how much you love Buddha Bowls so here is a list of our 20 most popular Buddha bowl Recipes and reader favorites from 2020! 

Bali Bowl with Peanut Tofu, black rice, roasted sweet potatoes, shredded cabbage, radish and snow peas. A delicious vegan buddha bowl recipe the whole family will love!

Roasted Sunchoke and Barley Bowl with mushrooms, parsnips and kale, drizzled with a  Zaatar Tahini Sauce –  a vegan plant-based buddha bowl, perfect for fall!

Baked Falafel Bowls!  Meal-prep these tasty falafels and freeze for the busy workweek.  Serve with seasonal veggies,  greens, warm grains and a drizzle of Every Day Tahini Sauce. So yummy! Perfect in vegan buddha bowls!

 Vegan Bahn Mi Noodle Bowl with Sriracha Tofu, rice noodles, pickled carrots and radishes, crunchy cucumber and cabbage and spicy, vegan Bahn Mi dressing! This buddha bowl is bursting with Vietnamese flavor! Feel free to use zucchini noodles, sweet potato noodles or kelp noodles!

Smokey Cauliflower Chimichurri Bowls!  These filling vegan buddha bowls are full of flavor and loaded up with healthy veggies. Served over seasoned black beans (and optional rice) with Mexican Slaw, radishes, avocado, cilantro and pickled onions.

A flavorful Miso Mushroom Bowl with brown rice, avocado, cabbage, carrots, daikon, edamame and a delicious Miso Ginger Dressing. Vegan!

  Green Goddess Bowl loaded up with steamed and fresh seasonal veggies and a vegan, low-calorie Green Goddess Dressing that you will want to drink. Serve over grains or greens or both. A very clean-eating, plant-based, vegan buddha bowl.

Zen Noodle Bowl–  these Japanese-inspired, vegan buddha bowls are made with fresh seasonal veggies and a light, citrusy Ponzu Dressing, can be made with sesame ginger tofu (or seared ahi tuna). Vegan and Grain-free adaptable! (Try it with zucchini noodles or kelp noodles!)

This Vegan Oaxacan Bowl is grain-free, made with roasted chipotle sweet potatoes and roasted peppers over a bed of warm seasoned black beans. It’s topped with crunchy cabbage slaw, avocado and my favorite thing ever, toasted Chipotle Maple Pecans. One of my personal favorites!

 Vegan Seoul Bowl! This Korean -inspired, vegan buddha bowl ( aka bibimbap) is made with Gochujang baked Tempeh, steamed spinach and shiitake mushrooms, kimchi and pickled cucumbers- a tasty vegan version of Bibimbap!

 Vegan Fajita Bowls with roasted portobello mushrooms and peppers served over Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice– a fast and flavorful bowl that can be made on a sheet-pan –  perfect for busy weeknights! Vegan and Grain-free.

VEGAN Poke Bowls– made with seasoned tofu, served over warm brown rice, surrounded with healthy veggies and a delicious citrus ponzu sauce! A healthy delicious vegan buddha bowl!

 Moroccan Mujadara Bowl – a comforting, healthy vegetarian meal of lentils and rice, with fragrant Moroccan spices, served with caramelized shallots, fresh veggies, ( or roasted veggies) pine nuts and optional yogurt. Gluten-free and Vegan adaptable.

 Superfood Walnut Pesto Noodle Bowls – a packable lunch filled with healthy veggies and soba noodles tossed in the most flavorful Superfood Pesto! Vegan and GF adaptable!

Vegan Sunshine Bowl w/ fresh crunchy raw veggies- like grated beets, carrots, kohlrabi, sunchokes, radish & jicama over nutty brown rice and a delicious, sunflower seed “tahini” sauce.  Vegan and GF!

 Glow Bowl– a healthy, hearty vegan buddha bowl loaded up with fruits and vegetables that make the most impact on your skin, giving you a healthy glow! Vegan and delicious! (Plus a true story about my dad who went vegan at age 65- and what it did to his skin! )

 Tandoori Glory Bowl with Roasted cauliflower, chickpeas and flavorful Moroccan spices.  Cook it all on one sheet-pan in 30 mins flat!

Vegan-adaptable Morning Grain Bowls-are full of nutritious, healthy plant-based ingredients. Energizing and healthy these will keep you fueled all day long!

 Caribbean Blackbean and Mango Bowls– with roasted purple cabbage, sweet potatoes and tofu (or chicken) baked in the most flavorful Caribbean Marinade, served over a bed of seasoned black beans with fresh mango and lime! A delicious vegan bowl with bright, sunny Caribbean flavors!

Vegan Burrito Bowl – loaded up with healthy veggies, rice and beans and a flavorful Creamy Vegan Cilantro Sauce! So easy and healthy!

These vegan-adaptable  Tofu Shawarma Bowls are loaded up with healthy veggies, and can be made on a sheet pan. Easy and delicious, this vegan buddha bowl is one of my favorites!  ( Make sure to scroll to the recipe to see vegan option!)

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Hope you enjoy the buddha bowls! Pick out a few to try out in the next coming weeks. Make the components ahead for mid-week lunches!

I will be continually updating this list, so make sure to check back!

Happy healthy New Year!

xoxo

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