Who can keep up with all of the trendy foods lately? Well, we can, because it’s our job! The most recent thing that intrigued us is the Buddha Bowl! But what is it exactly and how can you make your own? We’ll tell you in a second.
I don’t know about you, but when I hear about anything that has the ‘Buddha’ name in it, my ears perk up. I am not a 100 percent fan of using this name to sell products of any kind, but I do sometimes fall prey to marketing. Don’t we all? But the Buddha bowl is a pretty legit dish and meal in its own right, that I had a lot of fun researching and finding out what makes it tick.
What is a Buddha Bowl?
All’s fine and good, but what exactly is this bowl thing? Well, it’s a complete all-in-one meal that feeds a lot of your senses (as any dish really should do). The Buddha Bowl has one hell of an impact visually since it looks sensational when you’ve finished putting it together. All of the ingredients are neatly arranged so that they look like a pretty picture. The smell is really good and fresh. And the taste, well… It’s great.
It’s also a pretty healthy and simple way to make a meal. Its base is usually a grain of some kind and the origins of the meal are vegetarian. But nobody will judge you if you add some meat or some fishy loveliness to your recipe. Don’t forget some lean protein like tofu and nuts and a delicate dressing over everything.
How do you put a great bowl together?
1. Experiment with ancient grains
The great thing about the Buddha Bowl is that you can swap out ingredients as you please and customize your recipes without much of an inconvenience. So how about those grains? Well, you can go for brown or white rice, both steamed. But you can also take things a bit further with things like quinoa, millet, farro, freekeh, kamut, sorghum, or amaranth.
It all depends on your tastes and what you can find at the store and what kind of texture and flavors you’re in the mood for. You can even combine two of these. But don’t go overboard, you don’t want too many ingredients and flavors fight over your attention in one bowl.
2. Add some protein
The grains are the base of the dish. The next step is adding the lean protein you favor to the mix. Your options are, once again, pretty varied and the dish is customizable. Choose between highly nutritious pulses (like all types of beans, peas), or legumes like chickpeas and lentils. But you can also go for some hardboiled egg, some baked tofu or tempeh.
But don’t go wild with it. You still have more stuff to add to your bowl, like…
3. Veggies
Sliced bell peppers, cucumbers, green onion, cabbage, carrots, spinach, and arugula are going to bring something crunchy to the mix, but also insanely nutritious. Choose one or two of these for your bowl. But don’t go for too many or else you’ll make something more like a salad. You can also try some cooked beets, mushrooms, cauliflower, and broccoli. The way you cook them is up to you. But blanching and roasting are two great ideas to consider.
4. Make a dressing
You can choose a lovely vinaigrette for the task, your favorite, in fact. A classic option is a tahini dressing with some lemon or lime in it. Don’t be afraid to explore!
5. Put it together
Once you’re finished choosing and prepping the ingredients, make sure you put them together in a nice bowl. Separate them into layers so that you can mix whatever ingredients you want on your fork. Then drizzle the dressing on top of the bowl. You can also add some more delicious notes, like some crushed nuts and seeds, and even some grated cheese.
Also, try a poke bowl if you’re into Asian flavors.
