Buddha Bowls

Buddha bowls are one of my favorite last-minute dinner ideas when I just don't know what to make or haven’t prepared something ahead of time. Buddha bowls are a perfect way to get rid of some extra veggies and ingredients you have sitting in the pantry or fridge but they can also be planned ahead of time to make a really delicious combination.

To begin, what even is a buddha bowl? Essentially, there isn’t one exact meaning but I have always heard and thought of it as a one-bowl dish. This basically means it consists of rice or a grain, fresh and/or roasted veggies, a protein, a dressing or sauce, and toppings. If I’m correct, the name buddha bowl comes from the big, round belly shape of the bowl. There are endless ways to assemble these bowls and they are so customizable.

Here are some ideas for what you can put in your bowls within each category for some inspiration:

Rice/Grain- Brown rice, white rice, quinoa, farro, noodles

Protein- Chicken, steak, tofu, salmon, seared tuna, black beans, chickpeas

Fresh/Roasted Veggies- Sweet potato, bell pepper, mushroom, zucchini, cucumber, beets, carrots, kale, red onion, radishes, jalapenos, cauliflower, avocado, tomato, brussel sprouts, spinach, etc

Sauces can be super basic like ranch, balsamic, barbecue sauce, or sour cream and can get more creative and customizable if you have a little more time and put in a little extra effort. You can make a spicy mayo, a tahini-based vegan dressing, a citrus vinaigrette, avocado crema, garlic vinaigrette, tzatziki, or even ponzu.

Toppings- Nuts and seeds like toasted almonds, cashews, peanuts, sesame seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds, fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, basil, green onion, crispy onions, jalapeno slices, and really whatever else floats your boat.

If you are someone who is into food photography or just likes to plate your meals to look very nice, these are the dishes to do that with. I will attach some photos of my own buddha bowls that I have plated to perfection!

Really, the best thing about these is that the possibilities are endless and you can create your bowl to the exact cravings you want. These are super easy if you just throw all your ingredients on a cookie sheet in the oven or use leftovers, whatever the case is these are so worth a try!