Rainbow Buddha Bowl With Quinoa (Printable Version)

Vibrant grain bowl packed with colorful vegetables, protein-rich chickpeas, and creamy tahini dressing for wholesome nourishment.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Protein

04 - 1 cup cooked chickpeas, drained

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
06 - 1 cup carrots, julienned
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cup yellow bell pepper, sliced
09 - 1 cup cucumber, sliced
10 - 1 cup fresh baby spinach

→ Healthy Fats & Toppings

11 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
12 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
13 - 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

→ Dressing

14 - 3 tablespoons tahini
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
17 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
18 - 1 clove garlic, minced
19 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add rinsed quinoa and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to low, cover with lid, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let rest covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
02 - While quinoa cooks, slice red cabbage thinly, julienne carrots, halve cherry tomatoes, slice bell pepper and cucumber, and slice avocado just before assembly.
03 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, minced garlic, and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Season with salt and black pepper. Add more water gradually to reach desired consistency.
04 - Divide cooked quinoa evenly among 4 serving bowls. Arrange chickpeas, red cabbage, carrots, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, spinach, and avocado in colorful sections on top of quinoa.
05 - Drizzle each bowl with tahini dressing. Top with toasted pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks so stunning on the table that people think you spent hours planning when really it's just vibrant vegetables being honest about themselves.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, so when you're tired or busy, assembly takes maybe five minutes and you still feel like you've nourished yourself properly.
  • There's something almost meditative about eating it—the way textures change with each bite keeps you present instead of mindlessly shoveling food down.
02 -
  • If your quinoa comes out mushy, you either didn't rinse it or you used too much water—next time measure precisely and rinse under cold water while stirring with your fingers.
  • The dressing can be made the night before and tastes even better once the flavors marry, but don't dress the whole bowl ahead of time unless you enjoy eating a soggy mess.
03 -
  • Toast your own seeds and nuts just before serving—the difference between okay and unforgettable lives in that moment of heat and aroma.
  • Keep the vegetables in the coldest part of your fridge so they stay crisp; crisp vegetables taste alive, while soggy ones taste like regret.
Go Back