If you’re on the hunt for the kind of wholesome, colorful meal that makes you feel like you’re absolutely thriving, the Best Buddha Bowl is pure joy in a bowl! This power-packed recipe is brimming with roasted sweet potato, massaged kale, tangy fermented veggies, plenty of plant protein, and a dreamy Turmeric Tahini Sauce — all coming together for the most satisfying lunch or dinner you can imagine.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Total Rainbow Vibes: Every veggie brings a pop of color and crunch, making every bite as gorgeous as it is nourishing.
- Meal Prep Magic: Most of the components can be made ahead, so healthy lunches or dinners are only seconds away.
- Customizable for Everyone: Mix and match grains, proteins, and veggies to suit what’s on hand or your latest craving!
- Ultra-Satisfying Texture: Creamy sauce, crispy sweet potato, chewy grains, and crisp veggies create the ultimate bite every time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Don’t be fooled by the beautiful presentation—every ingredient in this Best Buddha Bowl is there for a reason! Each vegetable, grain, and sprinkle brings unique flavor, texture, and color, building a meal that’s filling and exciting. Here’s what gives this Buddha bowl its irresistible character.
- Sweet Potato: Roasting cubes in the oven brings out their deep caramel flavors and soft, satisfying bite.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: Just a drizzle ensures golden, tender sweet potatoes and soft, glossy kale.
- Watermelon Radish or Red Radishes: Vibrant slices add a peppery crunch and look simply stunning.
- Carrots: Ribbons made with a peeler add a pop of bright orange and plenty of sweet freshness.
- Shredded Red Cabbage: Provides crunch and a gorgeous purple hue, plus a healthy amount of fiber.
- Lemon: Just a squeeze brightens up all the veggies and keeps the flavors vibrant.
- Kale Leaves: Massaged until tender, kale is hearty and adds a satisfying green base.
- Brown Rice or Quinoa: Choose your favorite for a nutty, hearty bed of chewy grains.
- Chickpeas or Lentils: Protein-packed, creamy, and filling—these make your Best Buddha Bowl truly substantial.
- Sauerkraut or Other Fermented Veggie: Brings a tangy, probiotic boost and irresistible umami depth.
- Sesame Seeds or Hemp Seeds: Adds delicate crunch and a little extra protein.
- Turmeric Tahini Sauce: The golden, creamy drizzle that ties everything together!
- Microgreens (optional): For extra visual flair and a fresh, peppery finish.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper: The finishing touch for seasoning every element to perfection.
Variations
The Best Buddha Bowl is the most adaptable meal you’ll ever make—think of it as an endlessly customizable canvas for your mood, your pantry, or your latest farm box haul! Swap, substitute, or mix things up to make it all your own.
- Switch Up the Grains: Use farro, bulgur, or millet instead of brown rice or quinoa for a fun textural twist.
- Protein Play: Sub in tempeh, grilled tofu, or edamame for the chickpeas or lentils for a different kind of plant-powered protein.
- Dressings Galore: Try a zesty avocado lime sauce, classic hummus, or miso-ginger dressing if you want a whole new flavor vibe!
- Roast More Veggies: Cauliflower, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts are delicious additions alongside the sweet potato.
How to Make Best Buddha Bowl
Step 1: Roast the Sweet Potatoes
Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment—less mess, more fun. Toss your sweet potato cubes with olive oil, a generous sprinkle of sea salt, and black pepper. Spread them out so each cube gets golden and caramelized, then roast for about 20 minutes until irresistibly crisp on the edges.
Step 2: Prep the Raw Veggies
While those potatoes work their magic, thinly slice your radishes (a mandoline makes this a breeze!) and use your trusty peeler to create carrot ribbons. Toss the radish, carrots, and shredded cabbage with a squeeze of lemon—this tiny step wakes up all the flavors and adds brightness.
Step 3: Massage the Kale
Chop those kale leaves and place them in a large bowl. Add a generous squeeze of lemon and a few pinches of salt. Give the leaves a loving massage with your hands for about one minute, until soft and slightly wilted. It makes all the difference in texture—it’s practically kale salad magic!
Step 4: Assemble Your Bowl
In each bowl, start with a scoop of brown rice or quinoa, then build your sections of chickpeas (or lentils), massaged kale, carrots, radishes, cabbage, sweet potato, and fermented veggies. Sprinkle generously with sesame or hemp seeds, add a flourish of microgreens if you’d like, and finish with a good drizzle of that golden Turmeric Tahini Sauce. Add a final pinch of salt and pepper to taste—now you’re ready to dig in!
Pro Tips for Making Best Buddha Bowl
- Roast for Extra Flavor: Don’t overcrowd your baking sheet—spread out those sweet potatoes so each piece caramelizes instead of steaming.
- Kale Massage Magic: Truly massaging your kale with lemon and salt transforms it from tough and leathery to tender and crave-worthy!
- Veggie Prep Ahead: Slice, peel, and prep your veggies a day in advance and store them separately in airtight containers for super-fast Buddha bowls all week.
- Sauce to Order: Keep your Turmeric Tahini Sauce on the side until serving so everything stays crisp and colorful until the last bite.
How to Serve Best Buddha Bowl
Garnishes
Garnishes are your secret to next-level Buddha bowls! I love a finishing sprinkle of sesame or hemp seeds for crunch, a handful of microgreens for a fresh, peppery note, and a final shower of fresh herbs like cilantro or parsley if you’d like. A wedge of lemon on the side is perfect for squeezing over everything right before serving.
Side Dishes
Honestly, the Best Buddha Bowl is a meal all on its own, but you can absolutely serve it alongside a simple miso soup, a cup of ginger tea, or even crispy baked pita chips for a fun crunch. It also makes a gorgeous pair with a light cucumber salad or spiralized veggie noodles if you want a little extra veggie action!
Creative Ways to Present
Presentation is half the fun! Layer your bowl in “stripes” or colorful pie wedges, or let your kids build their own bowl from a rainbow of options at the table. Pack everything neatly in a mason jar for a beautiful, transportable lunch that’s guaranteed to impress at the office or the park.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Buddha bowl ingredients in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Keeping the veggies, grains, and sauce apart ensures everything stays fresh and crisp for up to 3 or even 4 days—just assemble and dress your bowl right before you’re ready to eat.
Freezing
While the fresh veggies are best enjoyed when crisp, you can freeze the cooked sweet potatoes, grains, and chickpeas or lentils. Let them cool completely, then pack them in freezer-safe containers. Thaw overnight in the fridge and assemble your Buddha bowl with fresh raw veggies when you’re ready.
Reheating
Reheat the grains, sweet potatoes, and legumes in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat until warmed through. Add the vegetables and sauce just before serving to preserve their unique flavors and vibrant crunch.
FAQs
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Can I make the Best Buddha Bowl ahead for meal prep?
Absolutely! Prepare all the cooked components and chop your vegetables up to three days ahead. Store everything separately, so you can build fresh bowls and drizzle on the sauce at the last minute for peak flavor and texture.
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Is the Best Buddha Bowl gluten-free?
Yes! As long as you use gluten-free grains like brown rice or certified gluten-free quinoa, the entire meal stays naturally gluten-free. Always check your sauces or fermented veggies for hidden gluten, just in case.
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What is the best way to make the kale tender and not bitter?
Massaging the kale with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of salt really softens the leaves and sweetens their flavor, making them much more palatable (and even crave-worthy) in your Buddha bowl.
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Can I use different sauces for my Buddha bowl?
Definitely! While Turmeric Tahini Sauce is a showstopper, try spicy peanut sauce, creamy avocado dressing, or even classic hummus if you want to switch things up. These bowls are endlessly versatile.
Final Thoughts
If you haven’t tried the Best Buddha Bowl yet, this is your invitation to make it your next kitchen adventure! It’s nourishing, endlessly customizable, and truly a celebration of everything delicious about plant-forward meals. Gather your favorite ingredients, grab a big bowl, and treat yourself—you’ll want to make this again and again!
Print
Best Buddha Bowl Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Baking
- Method: Stovetop
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Best Buddha Bowl recipe is a colorful and nutritious meal featuring a variety of vegetables, grains, legumes, and a flavorful Turmeric Tahini Sauce. Packed with textures and flavors, it’s a satisfying dish for any time of day.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes:
- 1 large sweet potato, cubed
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Vegetables:
- 1 watermelon radish or 2 red radishes
- 2 medium carrots
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- Lemon wedge, for squeezing
- 8 kale leaves, chopped
Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked brown rice or quinoa
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas or cooked lentils
- 3/4 cup sauerkraut or other fermented veggie
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds or hemp seeds
- Turmeric Tahini Sauce, for serving
- Microgreens, optional
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roast sweet potatoes: Toss the sweet potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper, and spread onto the baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Prepare vegetables: Thinly slice the radish into rounds, use a vegetable peeler to peel the carrots into ribbons, and toss with cabbage and lemon.
- Massage kale: Massage kale leaves with lemon and salt until wilted.
- Assemble bowls: Combine rice, chickpeas, kale, carrots, radishes, cabbage, sweet potatoes, sauerkraut, sesame seeds, and microgreens. Season and serve with Turmeric Tahini Sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approximately 400 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 10g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
