Rainbow Veggie Buddha Bowl (Printable)

Vibrant bowl with colorful vegetables, grains, and zesty sesame ginger dressing for healthy meals.

# What You Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup brown rice or quinoa, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water

→ Fresh Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
05 - 1 cup shredded carrots
06 - 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
07 - 1 cup broccoli florets, lightly steamed or raw
08 - 1 avocado, sliced

→ Protein

09 - 1 cup cooked chickpeas, canned, drained and rinsed

→ Toppings

10 - 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
12 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Sesame Ginger Dressing

13 - 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
14 - 3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
15 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
17 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
18 - 1 clove garlic, minced
19 - Juice of 1 lime

# How-To Steps:

01 - Rinse brown rice or quinoa thoroughly. Add to a medium saucepan with water, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes until tender. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - While grains cook, wash and chop all vegetables according to specifications: halve cherry tomatoes, shred red cabbage and carrots, thinly slice bell pepper, and cut avocado into slices.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together toasted sesame oil, tamari or soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, freshly grated ginger, minced garlic, and lime juice until well combined. Set aside.
04 - Lightly steam broccoli florets for 2-3 minutes if desired for tender texture, or leave raw to maintain extra crunch.
05 - Divide cooked grains equally among four bowls as the base. Arrange cherry tomatoes, red cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, broccoli, avocado, and chickpeas on top in colorful sections for visual appeal.
06 - Drizzle each bowl generously with sesame ginger dressing. Top with sesame seeds, fresh cilantro or parsley, and sliced green onions. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks Instagram-worthy but takes less time than scrolling through actual Instagram, and tastes genuinely nourishing rather than just pretty.
  • The sesame ginger dressing is addictive enough that you'll find yourself drizzling it on salads and grain bowls for weeks afterward.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead except the avocado, making it perfect for those mornings when hunger strikes before motivation does.
02 -
  • Add avocado literally at the last second before eating, because it oxidizes faster than you'd think and turns an unappetizing color even when protected by plastic wrap.
  • Make the dressing at least 15 minutes ahead if you can so the ginger mellows slightly and the flavors marry together into something greater than their individual parts.
03 -
  • Buy pre-cut vegetables if budget and conscience allow—the time saved is worth the slight extra cost, and you're far more likely to actually make these bowls if prep isn't standing between you and lunch.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes before using them; they'll smell incredible and taste ten times better than the pale, blah seeds straight from the jar.
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