mediterranean buddha bowl

Build Your Own Mediterranean Buddha Bowl

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Committing to eating fresh and plant-based meals regularly can be made easier with customizable buddha bowls! Learn how to build your own Mediterranean buddha bowl that is overflowing with delicious flavor and packed with nutrients to satisfy your body and mind.


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mediterranean buddha bowl

Eat sustainably

This Earth Day, I challenge you to make one more plant-based meal a week. Whether this is entirely new to you or a vegetarian or vegan pro, we can all push ourselves to do more.

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, meat consumption has a larger ecological footprint than the entire transportation industry! That is mind-blowing to me, yet encouraging to know that small actions when selecting our food can have a tremendous impact.

I personally could do more, but have recently made an effort to eat meat-free or minimal-meat lunches. It can be a challenge, but branch out in your local grocery stores and try something new or uncomfortable until you find something that works! Start with vegetables you know you like, such as sauteed with flavorful spices or in savory or sweet salsas!

(PS: if you have a Wegman’s available near you, their store brand meatless chicken nuggets taste like the nuggets from my school lunch days and I am in love)

buddha bowl

What is a Buddha bowl?

A buddha bowl is what you make it; typically, a bowl filled with fresh vegetables, plant-based proteins, and whole grains.

They are 100% customizable and ingredients can easily be swapped out to fit your preferences or what you have available. Most importantly, buddha bowls are vegan and meant to help you find balance in what you eat.

I know I could always use more veggies in my diet, and buddha bowls allow me to easily get a few servings in.

To me, it’s an opportunity to indulge in a “clean” meal that tastes incredible and doesn’t make me feel like I’m missing out by not eating meat.

mediterranean buddha bowl

How to: Build Your Own Buddha Bowl

The basic composition of a buddha bowl is: 

grains + veggies + protein + dressing (optional)

I like to start with a bed of lettuce or greens of your choosing.

Next, layer on grains such as quinoa or lentils.

Here comes the fun part! Pile on bright and beautiful pieces of vegetables and fruits that you love. For a Mediterranean buddha bowl I use cucumber slices, grape tomatoes, chunks of orange bell pepper, large olives, and parsley.

Arrange the vegetables on your lettuce and grains and move onto the protein.

You cannot go wrong with chickpeas! Roast some chickpeas in the oven or on the stop stovetop and pile them on. Finish with a big scoop of hummus to help keep you full.

For a basic tahini sauce, mix tahini with olive oil and lemon juice, and drizzle over the entire bowl. Enjoy with pita chips or bread of your choosing!

buddha bowl

Ingredients Needed

Materials Needed

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mediterranean buddha bowl

Mediterranean Buddha Bowl

Learn how to build your own Mediterranean buddha bowl that's overflowing with flavor and packed with nutrients to satisfy your body and mind.
5 from 28 votes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean

Ingredients
  

  • 1-2 cups leafy greens of spinach
  • 1/2 cup quinoa
  • 1/2 cucumber sliced thin
  • 8 oz grape tomatoes halved
  • 8 oz (1/2 can) large olives
  • 1 orange pepper roughly chopped
  • 15 oz (1 can) chickpeas roasted
  • 1/3 cup hummus
  • parsley to garnish

Tahini Dressing

  • 1/4 cup tahini
  • 1/2 lemon juiced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Place the lettuce in a large bowl. Top evenly with quinoa. Arrange cucumber, tomatoes, olives, orange pepper, and chickpeas around the bowl, and finish with the hummus in the middle. Garnish with parsley.
  • Whisk tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil until combined. Pour over the bowl and enjoy!
Keyword lunch, salad, vegetarian

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Have you ever built your own buddha bowl before? I’m so excited to try out new combinations and flavors and incorporate this feel-good meal into my routine.

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89 thoughts on “Build Your Own Mediterranean Buddha Bowl”

  1. Now that certainly looks like a bowl full of goodness and certainly something I would have after going out for a ride. Again it’s easy to make as well which is ideal 😁

  2. 5 stars
    I’ve never really had a Buddha bowl before but this looks delicious – love all the colours and the veggies. I might attempt something like this tonight for dinner actually! So thanks for the suggestion 🙂 xx

  3. I love having Buddha Bowl, they’re so easy to make and so so delicious! Yours looks like one from a magazine!! We usually have them with rice, but should try and swap it for quinoa x

  4. 5 stars
    As I’ve been following your blog for some time now, I can say that I love the simple and genuine way you prepare your recipes. This bowl looks perfect and sooooo delicious!

  5. This looks and sounds yummy! I like the idea of trying meatless meals purposefully to help the Earth. My best friend is vegan so she is my go-to for delicious meat replacements. I will share this with her, too! I’m sure she will enjoy it. 🙂

  6. 5 stars
    We are always trying to eat the rainbow and this looks so colorful and appetizing! A combination of all the things I love in one bowl. What a great idea 😀

  7. 5 stars
    You had me at chickpeas and hummus! I love the idea of trying to have one more veggie focused meal a week, I will try that with my family. Thanks for this delicious and well balanced meal!

  8. 5 stars
    This recipe looks super fresh. I have not really given into plant-based eaten before, but this recipe might have swayed me. The perfect spring recipe. thanks for sharing.

  9. These are great for weekday dinners. I can go to the store on the weekend, wash and chop all the veggies into containers, then it’s just pile onto a plate or bowl in a few minutes. Yum!

  10. This sounds really fresh and delicious! I already love Greek/Mediterranean food so much and have been doing bowls similar to this on a regular basis. You’ve inspired me to add a few new ingredients to the list!

  11. This recipe looks really delicious. It is great as you can mix up the ingredients to your favourites. I would love that accompanied with so many different meals or on its own. Thank you for sharing.

    Lauren

  12. Oh my goodness yum! I will definitely have to try this out. It looks delicious. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!

  13. 5 stars
    Will definitely try this one!! Hummus is a favorite of mine and the colors of these vegetables are so pleasing. Thank you for sharing 💫
    Zinelr, xx

  14. Pingback: 40 Easy Camping Lunch Ideas for Dad - Abundance of Flavor

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