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Spring has sprung, my friends! However, if you’re like me, you’re still hanging onto winter, crying big fat tears. Winter or no winter, I’ll keep my comfort food nearby. But, I crave a different kind of comfort – the almighty Buddha bowl. I love making these because I can curate them to whatever season I am living. If you’re paying attention, you caught on that I love winter. So, I shall continue to pack my Buddha bowls with roasted sweet potatoes and cauliflower, farro with just the right amount of al dente, and other deliciousness that the season brings. I’ll even add in chickpeas for good protein measure. For those who welcome spring with open arms, please use the beautiful ingredients the season brings.
Get Your Buddha On
I swoon for a beautiful Buddha bowl every week. There is something about building them that really brings me joy. I’m not sure what I love more: choosing what I want to go into my bowl, arranging the ingredients in a way that compliments each other, or eating the damn thing! They can be enjoyed hot or cold, designed to your preference. The process from beginning to end is a truly creative journey in so many ways. It’s an opportunity to express your creativity, honor the food and its beauty, and nourish our bodies. I’ll shut up now and give you a few pointers on creating your own tasty bowls.
The Components of a Badass Buddha Bowl
What makes up a stellar Buddha bowl? Let’s count the ways.
- GRAINS: A hearty, toothy texture of cooked grains is a substantial part of a good Buddha bowl. Brown rice, farro, buckwheat, quinoa, barley, or millet are all great choices to add to your bowl.
- PROTEIN: What am I saying? There’s protein in just about every food. If you don’t eat animal protein, you can add beans and legumes, tofu, tempeh, hummus, and falafel for that extra kick of protein.
- VEGGIES: This is where all of the gorgeous colors come into play. Choose contrasting colors and steam, stir-fry, roast, blanch, or grill them up to intensify their colors. Adding them in raw is always a plus too!
- HEALTHY FATS: If you’re eating whole food fats like avocado, oil, nuts, and seeds, they can elevate your Buddha bowl with creamy or textural elements that’ll make your creation really shine.
- A LIL’ CRUNCH: Dark leafy greens such as kale, green leaf lettuce, spinach, arugula, romaine (grilled or raw), cucumbers, radishes, sprouts, and microgreens are awesome options.
- HERBS: Basil, parsley, mint, cilantro, and tarragon add beautiful flavors I like to call “accessory flavors.” A little goes a long way and can take your bowls from boring to badass. Don’t be afraid to use these embellishments!
- DRESSING: Come on… you gotta have a dressing to crown your gorgeous Buddha bowl! Balsamic, creamy, Asian, green goddess or any other favorite dressing go wonderfully drizzled over roasted and chilled baby Yukons or blistered mini bell peppers. It’s the cherry on top!
Buddha Bowl Swooning
I could go on and on about the benefits of Buddha bowls (clearly, I’m a little obsessed), but I’ll spare you. If you’re not already convinced, hang tight. I’m working on something super special that I’ll release in 2023. Stay tuned, my friend!
In the meantime, here is a cheat sheet to learn how to build your own bowls. Also, check out another Buddha Bowl recipe here. You’re gonna love it!
