This summer has been a glorious mix of amazing weather, trips to the farmers market, and travels to new cities. Since summer is on its way out (booo) I thought it appropriate to highlight one of my go-to meals recently: This 7-ingredient kale, quinoa, chickpea Buddha Bowl.
It may seem simple and just like any other wholesome bowl, but the flavors meld together perfectly, it’s a nutrient powerhouse (with 22 g protein per serving), and its simplicity is the best part (anyone can make it)!
Interested in how this delicious bowl is made? Please follow me.
What is a Buddha Bowl?
But first, what’s a Buddha Bowl?
It’s not clear where the term Buddha Bowl originated, and there doesn’t seem to be any strict set of rules for how to make one. But it seems to be roughly defined as a bowl with an assortment of small portions of different foods (especially grains & veggies).
Some say the concept is thought to emulate the way Buddhist monks would walk around with a bowl, accepting small portions from other people (source). While others claim that Buddha bowls refer to a healthy, balanced, but overloaded bowl resembling the rounded belly of the Laughing Buddha (source).
Either way, we’re Buddha Bowl fans around here!
How to Make This Bowl
This recipe is inspired by the Mighty Bowl at Harlow (one of my favorite Portland restaurants) and starts with cooked-from-scratch chickpeas (which are totally easy by the way).
My new go-to quick soak method tenderizes the beans and opens them up nicely, saving you (6-8) hours of overnight soaking. Cook immediately after soaking and you have delicious, tender, nutrient-rich beans in roughly 2 hours flat.
In the final minutes of the beans cooking, it’s time to prepare your quinoa (a gluten-free, protein powerhouse), make your 3-ingredient Tahini Sauce, and steam your kale (why kale is amazing, in case you aren’t convinced). Then it’s Buddha Bowl building time.
I hope you all LOVE this bowl! It’s:
Simple
Easy to make
Incredibly nutritious
Protein- + fiber-rich
Vegetable-packed
& Crazy delicious
This is the perfect meal for most any occasion, but especially when you’re craving a healthy, hearty lunch or dinner. It packs up beautifully for work the next day for lunch. Plus, it’s ideal for serving to a crowd as it’s suitable for pretty much every kind of special diet. Win win!
If you try this recipe, let us know what you think! We love seeing your comments, ratings, and especially your photos tagged #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
More Buddha Bowl Recipes
Quinoa Chickpea Buddha Bowl
Ingredients
CHICKPEAS
- 1 cup dry chickpeas
- Water
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
QUINOA
- 1 Tbsp olive, grapeseed, or avocado oil (or coconut)
- 1 cup white quinoa (well rinsed)
- 1 3/4 cup water
- 1 healthy pinch sea salt
KALE
- 1 large bundle curly (dinosaur) kale (rinsed and torn into large pieces)
TAHINI SAUCE
- 1/2 cup tahini (raw or roasted)
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup water
FOR SERVING optional but recommended
- Fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Either soak chickpeas overnight in cool water (for 6-8 hours) or use the quick-soak method: Add rinsed chickpeas to a large pot and cover with 2 inches water. Bring to a boil over high heat and boil for 1 minute. Then turn off heat, cover, and let soak for 1 hour. Then drain, rinse, and add back to pot.
- To cook soaked chickpeas, add to a large pot and cover with 2 inches water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer, add salt and stir, and cook uncovered for 40 minutes – 1 hour 20 minutes (depending on the size/freshness of your beans).
- Sample a bean at the 40-minute mark to see how tender they are. You’re looking for a just tender bean with a tiny bit of bite, and the skins will start to show signs of peeling (don’t go too mushy!). Once cooked, drain beans and set aside and sprinkle with a bit more salt.
- In the last 30 minutes of the beans cooking, start your quinoa by heating a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, add oil and rinsed quinoa. Toast for 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. This will allow some of the water to evaporate and add a nice toasty flavor.
- Add water and increase heat to medium-high/high to bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low (simmer), cover, and cook for 18-22 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender and the water has completely absorbed. Then remove from heat and loosely drape the pot with a towel or paper towel to continue absorbing any excess moisture.
- Prepare dressing by adding tahini, sea salt and garlic powder to a small mixing bowl and whisking to combine. Then add water a little at a time until it forms a pourable sauce.
- Lastly, steam kale. Add 1/2 inch water to a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Insert a steamer basket and the kale and cover. Steam for 1-2 minutes, or until kale is vibrant in color and slightly wilted. Immediately remove the kale from the heat and transfer to a small dish for serving.
- To serve, divide quinoa, chickpeas and kale between serving bowls and top with tahini sauce. Add a splash of fresh lemon juice for more flavor and a bit of acidity (highly recommended).
- Best when fresh, though leftover sauce, quinoa, and chickpeas can be stored separately in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Kale is best when (steamed) fresh.
Notes
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with sauce.
*Prep/total time accounts for the quick soak chickpea method. Add 6-8 hours if soaking overnight.
*Recipe inspired by the Mighty Bowl at Harlow in Portland, OR.
jenna says
Dana, I just wanted to let you know that the link to Prasad actually goes to a random website named lightbulbfinder.net.
Thank you for letting us know, Jenna! We’ll get that updated. Prasad closed down, but Harlow is their sister restaurant and has the same dish!
Chantal says
So delicious! I added nutritional yeast to the sauce 👌
Yum! Thank you for sharing, Chantal! xo
Heidi austin says
If we use canned chickpeas is there no soaking involved? Just cooking them until tender?
Correct! You wouldn’t even really need to cook them, just drain and rinse. But for a more tender texture, you could cook them in their brine for ~5-10 minutes, then drain.
Andrea says
Hi!
I’ve never made this one before but I’d like to add at least two raw veg in each salad I make to make it fuller and more nutrient dense!
Any suggestions that you’ve tried?
Thank you :)
Hi Andrea, we think carrots + cabbage would be nice! Maybe as a slaw?
Dana C. says
Winner! I think my spouse would have eaten my servings, and they are not a huge vegan meal fan. Super easy, and my leftovers were fine–I used canned chickpeas and stored them with the wilted kale. I stored the quinoa and sauce separately.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing all your reviews! xo
Ella says
Amazing recipe as always 😍 so healthy and delicous, thank you so much. One question, the chickpeas fan be made in the instant pot?
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Ella! The chickpeas can definitely be made in the Instant Pot. You can find our recipe for Instant Pot chickpeas here.
Pam says
This was very easy to make. I used canned chick peas to save time. It was a quick and simple lunch that my kids loved.
We’re so glad they enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing, Pam!
Cindy says
LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe! I use canned chickpeas and cook the quinoa in my Instant Pot. I can have it on the table in minutes. I typically serve it over spring mix to make it even EASIER. It is delicious with the steamed kale too. I added some sauteed sliced mini-portobella mushrooms tonight. And the lemon is a MUST. I add it to the dressing and squeeze the lemon on top. 10/10!
We’re so glad you enjoy it, Cindy! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Debra says
Made this for the first time a few days ago. I love how simple and quick this recipe is (I used canned chickpeas). Also love how it has few ingredients that I usually have on hand. The left overs were even better the next day for lunch. Hubby and 4 and 2 year old liked it as well. Thank you!
Yay! We’re so glad everyone enjoyed it! xo
Andrea says
Loved this! Thank you for the idea!
Cassie says
Made this for lunch this week. Easy as can be and tastes delicious! Subbed spinach for kale since that’s what we had, and squeezed a lemon over the quinoa while it was warm. Love the tahini dressing!
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Cassie. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Megan says
A great last minute dinner recipe. I love the dressing and changing up the veg, always filling and satisfying! Thank you
Tori Avey says
Beautiful bowl Dana! This is my kind of lunch :)
Yay! We hope you love the recipe, Tori!
Maria Vargas says
Hi Dana, I was wondering if for these bowls you used the West Elm Basic Bowl or the Low Bowl? This recipe is also amazing. Thanks!
k says
This looks fantastic!
Unfortunately sesame gives me migraines (as do cashews)… almonds are ok, though: do you think almond butter might sub in here (with extra water)? Or any other ideas for an alternate sauce? Thanks so much – your recipes look amazing.
Hi! Almond butter would work nicely I think!
Holly says
I make this bowl at least once a week. Quick, easy, super nutritious, and so so delicious!
Shannon Hickman says
Such a simple and cheap but healthy and filling meal. It was even worth having to make the tahini from scratch!
Josie says
My husband are just a few days into our plant-based transition. This recipe was a hit! I used collards as kale is not popular with my husband. I finished the dish with a squeeze of lemon, a drizzle of EVOO and a sprinkle of za’atar. Thank you for making our transition easy and delicious!
gigi says
This looks perfect as I often soak chickpeas and then wonder what will go with them in my pantry/fridge. Luckily I nearly always have kale, quinoa and tahini on hand and it comes together so easy. Thanks!
Ana says
I just made it! OMG it was DELICIOUS! Best tahini sauce ever!
Evan Jennings says
Used 2 x 19 oz cans of chick peas instead of 1 cup dried. Household favourite.
alyssa says
Hi there! I’m wondering which tahini you prefer? Thank you!
I love Alexis brand, but Trader Joe’s brand is also good!
Mandy says
We have a sesame allergy but that tahini sauce looks perfect. Any idea what I could use other than tahini?
Hmm, how about cashew butter?
Mandy says
Nuts are unfortunately out, too :(
Elle says
I realise this comment is several years old but I thought I’d throw these suggestions out there in case anyone else has the same question. You could try using a nut-butter alternative, such as sunflower seeds or if that’s not suitable, what about an avocado based dressing?
Lucy says
I just made this and it was seriously good! The tahini sauce was gorgeous! Thanks :-)
Elyse says
Awesome, quick, lunch or dinner idea! I love the tahini sauce. I had to add a TON of water to get a sauce consistency, but I’m excited to have discovered this meal.
I sauteed the kale in some olive oil, earth balance, chopped garlic, s & p, then pushed it aside and added chickpeas to the pan to heat up and served with brown rice which I always have on hand in jars in the fridge and the sauce, of course. 15 minutes from start to finish (I buy chopped garlic).
My one year old LOVES the chickpeas with tahini sauce! yay! I’m so glad to have found something besides black beans and sweet potatoes that he’ll eat!
stormie says
The tahini sauce is hard for me to get viscous! Oh no… i think i did something wrong!
Elyse says
me too! I added more than a cup of water at least (I stopped measuring). I added a ton of water to get a sauce, but the flavor was still on point and delicious.
I came to ask about ratio – but it looks like a few commenters had the same issue and received the same response – just keep adding water :)
Janet MacDonald says
Oh so fast in the Instant Pot or any other pressure cooker. No soaking for chickpeas. 35 min on hi pressure. Quinoa takes only 2 min. Kale is 1min. Wow….. best meal ever! Great recipe.
Katie says
This is my new favorite go to meal! So easy and SO delicious. I added roasted beets the second time I made it, and it turned out even more heavenly!
Janet says
My tahini sauce is not thin. I even got my mini food processor out to give it a spin. It remains peanut butter. How can I get it into a sauce like texture?
Janet says
Are the ratios correct for the tahini sauce? I’m wondering if it should be 1:1 water and tahini
Hi Janet, each tahini brand will be slightly different to begin with so if you need to add more water, feel free to do so!
Janet says
As I am learning! Thank you for your input and great recipes. They are very inspiring.
Alyssa says
Simple and delicious—loved it! My only question is about the tahini sauce. It started out creamy then when I whisked it, it got very, very thick. I added water bit by bit and still, super thick. Any suggestions?
Keep adding water until the desired consistency is achieved!
Tracers says
Looks great! I think some grilled onions would set this over-the-top delicious! But when don’t grilled onions make things better?!
Casey the College Celiac says
As someone who has just discovered the magic that is chickpeas (I know, I’m late to the party), this looks fabulous! Sometimes simple really is best, right? :)
Joyce @ The Hungry Caterpillar says
I love how healthy and delicious this looks. Vegetarian protein ftw!
Larissa says
I’m so excited to be trying this tonight!! Like some of you, I’ll be using canned chickpeas because it’s what I have in my pantry!! Aside from rinsing and draining them is there anything I should do to prepare them??? Thanks for your help!!
I’d heat them up a little if I were you!
Jesse says
I’ve been looking for a way to cook/eat my quinoa! Thanks for posting the recipe.
Stephanie says
Ooh, I love a good vegan bowl! Thanks for this one!
Emma Graddy says
I just made this recipe for a few friends and it was a hit! We ended up adding a lot of lemon juice which was great, and also tried out some hot sauce in the tahini sauce and that added a great flavor as well! We love all of your recipes :) Thanks for this!
sbsantafe says
I made this for lunch today and love the combination of flavors. But I have a question on the tahini dressing. I made it twice, using Trader Joe’s tahini. Both times the tahini seized beyond repair as soon as I tried thinning it out. I added dribs and drabs at first, room temperature water, didn’t want to overwhelm the tahini. But as soon as any liquid was introduced it seized. It smelled wonderful but was unusable, so I ended up using another dressing I had on hand. Any suggestions on how I can thin the tahini successfully so I can actually make this dressing? Thank you!
I find that when I keep mixing the tahini with small amounts of water, even after it seizes up, it eventually smoothes out!
Mika M says
Oooh, just picked up a clamshell of mixed spinach-baby kale but wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with. This sounds awesome. Just gotta pick up some tahini!
Christin says
Yum!! I made this with a couple tweaks…I used canned chickpeas and peeled off the skins (only recommended if you have an extra 25 minutes or so- it’s incredibly tedious!). Instead of kale, I used a lettuce blend from Trader Joe’s called Lemony Greens (I LOVE kale but my husband doesn’t).
It was a winner! So simple, but so healthy and the perfect light dinner (and will be my lunch tomorrow too). Thanks Dana! =)
Cassie says
I’ve been wanting to try soaking my beans! Do they taste different than those that aren’t soaked or sprouted?
Definitely give it a try Cassie! I haven’t noticed much of a difference in taste when I soak chickpeas!
Jill Booth says
One of the tastiest and simple things I’ve ever made. I made a big batch and took the bowls to a job site my husband was working at today and shared the bowls with the men there. They we’re all loving it! They ate every single bite and said “oh man, what is that sauce stuff on top, thats good” :) Thank you for your recipes. I have your cookbook and enjoy getting the occasional inspiration in my email inbox as well! Cheers!
haha YES! Love it when big tough guys like my food! xoxo
honeywhatscooking says
So mediterranean. That tahini sauce looks heavenly. I haven’t made tahini from scratch.
Hilary Ledingham says
Dana, when I was putting this together, I was thinking it was going to be the most boring supper I’d ever had, but I loved it! Just as you said, simple delicious and really healthy. Looking forward to making it again.
Thank you :)
Right? So good! Thanks for sharing!
Emily Noelle says
um yum!!! This is definitely what I’m craving right now! I am going to the store to buy ingredients ASAP!!! Thanks for sharing :)
Richard says
Looking forward to trying this! We got to visit Prasad and it was amazing. I wish you could come up with a similar dressing to their lemon ginger dressing. I was obsessed with it. Thanks for sharing!
Ooh, I’ll have to try it next time! Added to the list!
Sarah says
You had me at Tahini Sauce! Seriously that stuff is amazing. I love all your recipes & am getting your cookbook next week.
So kind! Thanks Sarah!
Sara @ mcdonald's menu says
Its easy to cook I would like to try it tonight with my friends.
Christina says
Very tasty! I added freshly squeezed lemon juice to the tahini sauce as I was whisking it, and it was delicious.
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Christina!
Estelle says
I am so excited for this recipe! My family was recently in Portland and our first meal was at Harlow (Prasad’s sister restaurant). My sister ordered the mighty bowl and I probably ended up eating like half of it along with my own meal. I am planning to eat this recipe 3x a day 7 days a week. Thank you so much
Right? So good! Hope you love this one!
Leni says
I’ve made this at least 4 times since the recipe first appeared. Love love love it. I use fresh garlic and some lemon juice in the tahini sauce, and canned chickpeas, rinsed and then soaked in water for 30 minutes to reduce the sodium. The recipe is incredibly flavorful. I’ve never been too big on kale, but with this tahini sauce drizzled on it I’m suddenly a fan. I’ve made the bowl with other veggies, too: beets, sliced tomatoes, green beans…it’s highly adaptable.
Yay! So glad you like it, Leni!
julia says
hi dana,
just wanted to ask – do you salt the chickpeas before cooking (step 2)? i learned not to salt pulses until after cooking, because salt will prolong the cooking process. any thoughts?
thanks, julia
If you’re worried about it prolonging the cooking process, season towards the end of their cook time!
Heather Carver says
yes! sweet potatoes would be great with all these ingredients!
Peppermint Dolly says
Gorgeous photos, can’t wait to try this dish!
Rxx
Hilda says
Hi Dana,
Thank you so very much for all the amazingly delicious, healthy and easy to make recipes :-)
Looking forward to making the Buddha bowl !
Erin says
A recipe shouldn’t receive a poor rating because you assume your kids will think it looks boring…please rate the recipe if you’ve actually made it per the instructions so it’s actually helpful for others. You can add whatever you want to it to get your kids to eat it, but why not give the original recipe a try first to test the flavors (bc I bet they’re lovely, Dana knows her stuff), or just make something else altogether.
Vicky & Ruth says
I also can’t believe that the summer is almost over…but this quinoa dish looks delicious and so easy and simple to make!
The Wooden Spoon says
Yum! I love how simple and delicious this looks!
Christina @ The Blissful Balance says
Yuuuum I have a recipe similar to this coming out in September, I literally inhaled it it was so good. I just love the combination of this trio! Gorgeous!
Aleksandra says
Looks really delicious :)
Elyse Sokoloff says
It’s like you read my mind. My bodybuilding trainer is trying to lower his cholesterol and has asked me to come up with easy, delicious meals that don’t include tofu. I came looking for your buddha bowl recipe (because why reinvent the wheel!) and this was on the first page. Easy? Check. Lots of protein? Check. Delicious? Oh you better believe check! I’m going to point him your way, thanks!
Lovely! Hope you both give it a try!
Faith VanderMolen says
All my favorite food piled into one bowl?! Yes please! And I have all these things on hand (other than the kale, but that’s easy to swap out) so I’ll definitely be making this!
Beth says
Every single recipe of yours that we’ve tried has been AMAZING!!! I can’t wait to try this one. I just created 8 weeks of dinner plans and nearly all come from you! Thank you so much! Wondering if there’s a good substitute for kale in this recipe? We’re not huge fans. I’m thinking maybe bok choy or purple cabbage?
Wow, thanks Beth! That’s amazing. If you aren’t into kale what about rainbow chard or spinach? I love kale in this recipe esepcially because it’s steamed so the flavor is less bitter and the texture is tender. Hope you give this recipe a try!
Kristin Brown says
Try collard greens! I love them :)
Sue says
Can you use canned chickpeas or is that blasphemy?
Not blasphemy! I do it sometimes, too. However, with this recipe because it’s so basic the chickpeas cooked from scratch really make a difference in flavor, texture, and freshness.
ChristineF says
I find canned organic chickpeas to be both affordable and convenient and I prefer the softer texture to the soaked ones. I think it is just a personal preference.
Gina says
I just made it now and used canned and it was great!! I just rinsed then first and added a touch of salt, olive oil and lemon juice and they were gorgeous :)
Alice says
This looks lovely! There is a place in Leeds that does cool hummus and falafel and chickpea bowls with pitta bread and salad.. its amazing xx
Mina says
Just out of curiosity, what is considered a serving off cooked quinoa and chick peas? make a variation of a bowl everyday for lunch. Looking forward to trying your tahini sauce!
Hmm, not sure! It might depend on your activity levels and body type. But I usually consider 1/2 to be one serving.