Buddha bowls – are they worth the hype?

When following the quest for maintaining mindfulness and spirituality, achieving balance in everything becomes key. Practice yoga, breathe and be conscious, be “green”, and thank the universe for all the goodness it has bestowed upon you and your loved ones. Celebrate life.

And what is the best way to keep in line with these resolutions? Eating healthy, “happy” and colourful food. Behold – the Buddha bowl!

Buddha bowls are nothing fashionable

Even if you have never heard of Buddha bowls, chances are you still have tried it before. The concept of the dish is not a new one, after all. In a nutshell, it’s a plate filled to the rims with cooked grains, fresh or cooked vegetables and plant-based proteins. All arranged in segments, plus a dressing. So, Buddha bowls are both pretty and healthy. They are thus popular photo objects to be shared on social media.

Originally the dish was known as Macro Bowl. The name Buddha bowl was chosen only recently, which suits the spiritual enlightenment trend to a T.

As you have probably guessed, Buddha bowls have no religious ties with Buddhism. The only connection here could be drawn to the fact that Buddha was given morsels of food by locals. He kept them in a bowl during his journeys.

Whether you follow the current trends or simply love a balanced diet, Buddha bowls certainly are a tasty option and can brighten up lunchtime meals.

What goes into a buddha bowl?

There is no strict rule as to what has to go into a Buddha bowl. Feel free to use your imagination and vary the ingredients to your liking.

• Generally, Buddha bowls are vegan. Grains that go in the Buddha bowl are rice (white or brown), quinoa, bulgur, millet or pearl barley.
• When it comes to vegetables, they can be both cooked and / or raw. Common fresh options are tomato, sweetcorn, carrot, pepper, salad leaves and red cabbage.
  • Baked or steamed vegetables include sweet potato, broccoli, cauliflower, aubergine, beetroot and other colourful alternatives.
• When it comes to protein,legumes, tofu and tempeh are typical picks. Microgreens and pickled vegetables are also popular additions, same as nuts, seeds and herbs.

Last but not least are the dressings. They will lift the taste of vegetables instantaneously. And they provide nutrients and sought-after balance.

Just mix and match the above ingredients to your heart’s content. The idea behind Buddha bowls is to make them balanced and nutritious and at the same time keep the vibrancy of the colour to the max. And all this in one bowl!

So are they worth the hype? 100 %!