Not a political or religious statement, a Buddha bowl is a generous, nourishing meal of plant-based goodness – or, as we’ve seen it playfully described on urbandictionary.com,“a bowl which is packed so full that it has a rounded ‘belly’ appearance on the top, much like the belly of a Buddha”. This beautifully coloured dish is a nutrient-packed health punch, and perfect for when you want a nutritious lunch that won’t leave you starving.
Less of a recipe and more of a guide, here’s how to put together your own wholesome bowl of deliciousness, to be enjoyed at any time of night or day:
The Buddha bowl
Instructions
Begin by preparing a base of pulses or grains – we love tinned chickpeas, drained and pan-fried in a dash of olive oil and then dusted with paprika, ground cumin, ground coriander and a little salt. Other variations include seasoned lentils or red kidney beans tossed in a little olive oil, or cooked bulgur wheat.
Next, prepare your veggies – these can be any combination of raw or roasted vegetables. Think baby radishes, cucumber ribbons, carrot ribbons or roasted sweet potato cubes.
Add a healthy handful of fresh, leafy greens – like chopped kale leaves, pea shoots, basil leaves or baby spinach.
Arrange your chosen components in a large bowl, including half an avocado, if desired, and then sprinkle with your choice of toppings. We love black sesame seeds, pumpkin and sunflower seeds for crunch, but you could add a handful of fresh sprouts too. Top your bowl of goodness with a generous drizzle of tahini, olive oil and lemon juice (or a green pesto, if you’d like) with a sprinkle of salt and a crack of freshly ground black pepper.
Enjoy, mindfully noting all the flavours and textures!
