Buddha Bar…it’s what’s for dinner!

We had our very first Buddha bowl about 7 years ago in downtown West Palm at a little counter-service restaurant called Chickpea. The seemingly endless combination of flavors and textures had us hooked and we have been making our own version(s) of Buddha bowls ever since.

Why is it called a Buddha bowl?!? Well we did a little research and this is what we found: “It may originate from presenting a balanced meal, where balance is a key Buddhist concept” Another idea is from the story of Buddha “carrying his food bowl to fill it with whatever bits of vegetarian food villagers would offer him” Whichever the case may be…we find them absolutely beautiful and delicious…a true feast for both your eyes and your tastebuds!

Tbh, this can take a bit of time to chop and prepare, but this bountiful bowl of ours is totally worth the prep, as it is absolutely brimming with nutrition.  It also makes for great leftovers. Go a little crazy and play around with various ingredients ~ mix-and-match whatever veggies you have on hand.

We prefer to use a balanced mix of quinoa and power greens as the base, but you can use whatever you like. Brown rice, lentils, couscous, or any type of mixed greens all work well. Here’s a list of some of our favorite topping options.  A Buddha bowl bar is a fun, unique and healthy way to feed family/friends by allowing everyone to experiment with a multitude of flavor combinations. {Keep in mind that if you’re like me and like to add everything…your bowl tends to grow in size!}

• Roasted cauliflower
• Roasted broccoli
• Pickled red onion
• Shredded carrot
• Scallions
• Beets
• Roasted sweet potato
• Hummus
• Sliced radish
• Chickpeas
• Sprouts
• Feta
• Pepita seeds
• Hemp seeds
• Kalamata olives
• Purple cabbage
• Cucumber
• Tomato
• Avocado
• Pepperoncini
• Sriracha
• Cilantro

Our go-to dressing is made with a tahini base

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons tahini (stir first if separated)

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon honey (or maple syrup/agave if vegan)

• 1 clove garlic minced

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)

• 3 tablespoons water 

• Salt & pepper to taste

Whisk the above ingredients together in a small bowl and pour over your Buddha bowl.

Notes:

*If you don’t have tahini on hand or don’t want to buy a large jar, simply use the equivalent amount of hummus.

*Everyone’s tastes for dressing are different, so the above quantities are just suggestions.  Again, feel free to play around with the sweetness and consistency according to your own personal preferences.