Sweet Potato Vegan Buddha Bowl Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 key components of a buddha bowl? ›

Buddha bowls are similar to another type of dish called nourish bowls – however, the main difference is nourish bowls can include animal protein. Buddha bowls are also known as grain bowls, hippie bowls, macro bowls or power bowls.

Add tahini paste, lemon juice, maple syrup, sesame oil and salt in a cup of a food processor or blender and blend until smooth, gradually adding water. Use the sauce for Buddha bowls, salads, falafel and more.

Buddha bowls are filling, healthy and fun meals that pack most of the nutrients your body needs. Preparing Buddha bowls can be a relaxing activity with a very rewarding payoff: you get a delicious and balanced meal that will enrich your day, body and soul, overall health and your Instagram/Pinterest feed.

It would always be some type of buddha bowl, with a grain, a legume, blanched leafy greens, steamed vegetables, a pickled vegetable, and a delicious sauce.

Buddha bowl is a catchy name for a simple concept: a one-dish meal that's made by piling a healthy combination of whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and a luscious sauce in a large, single-serving bowl.

"So that was the original Buddha Bowl: a big bowl of whatever food villagers had available and could afford to share. It was probably pretty healthy, since Buddha lived before the age of cheap processed food, but it was also probably pretty simple, maybe rice and a simple curry."

The custom still exists among some Buddhist monks in Southeast Asia, and the collaborative nature of Buddha's bowl has made its way into Western menus.

Start with leafy green vegetables or whatever plant-based layer you like, add your favorite meat or meat substitute, and then pile on more layers – whether more veggies, fruits, good fats or even grains. Check out our “Five Bowl Basics,” which you can use as a blueprint for developing your own system.

Shojin-ryori is the traditional cooking of Buddhist monks in Japan. Made entirely without meat, fish or any animal products, we think everyone should give it a try! Typical shojin-ryori meals centre around tofu and soybean-based foods, seasonal mountain vegetables and wild plants.

Is Buddha vegetarian or vegan? ›

Instead of going vegetarian, some Buddhists will opt to prioritize preventing food waste over vegetarianism. While alive, the Buddha merely restricted his intake of meat but did not fully ban it. In fact, the Buddha's last meal was tainted pork which led to the Buddha contracting food poisoning and death.

The seeds are ground until they form a thin paste-like sauce—it's the same process for making any type of nut butter, except that instead of cashews or almonds, you're using sesame seeds! Tahini is vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free; unless you have a sesame allergy, it's totally safe to eat.

Salmon, shrimp and grilled chicken are all great healthy options. Buddha bowls are highly versatile and easy to tailor to all tastes and dietary restrictions. They also can be made ahead and are easily packable which makes them perfect for do-ahead meal prep and work lunches.

What makes a buddha bowl a more balanced meal than a regular salad is that they contain a grain component (such as brown rice, quinoa or soba noodles) and protein (eggs, tofu or lean meat), plus a range of colourful vegetables.

Can a Buddha bowl have meat? Yes you can but just don't call it a Buddha bowl!. Buddhism is against the killing of any sentient being, and rearing any for meat and selling of meat. If you can have meat in your bowl without knowingly supporting any if these actions…

In Tibetan tradition, the offering of the seven or eight bowls (Tib: Ting) of water is a common practice by most practitioners. The making of offering is a practice that helps eliminate clinging and miserliness while also building up good potential.

Enthusiasts say it's a way of emulating the way Buddha used to eat; he would wake up before dawn and walk about with his bowl among the local people.

The seven offering bowls

As a guest is said to have been received and offered water to drink, water to wash the feet, flower garlands, incense, lamps, perfume and food, it is common to find similar offerings of the seven items in Buddhist rituals of deity worship.