You might be thinking, "It's just a meal in a bowl—what's the big deal?" Actually, there's a lot more to a Buddha bowl than the fact that it's gorgeous. Here's why (and how) you should be making them at home.
Photo: Shutterstock / Kiian Oksana
You’ve seen them all over Pinterest, so aren’t you wondering by now…what exactly are these Buddha bowl things? Are they some Internet fad that’ll be gone in a few months, or an “eat with your eyes” way of cooking, because let’s face it—they’re gorgeous? Well, let’s dive into Buddha bowls together.
I’m around all things food every day, but until recently even I was unfamiliar with the Buddha bowl. Truth is, I see so many trends in the food industry, it can be hard to keep up! Named for its big, round Buddha belly shape, a “Buddha bowl” can mean different things to different people, but let’s define it here as a one-dish meal consisting of rice or whole grains, roasted veggies, a dressing and protein (by way of beans, tofu, lentils, or in some cases meat or fish). It’s considered clean eating and it incorporates principles of Chinese and Japanese medicine. Popular among vegans, the Buddha bowl is considered an ideal way to eat and is credited with the potential for lowering the risk of chronic diseases.
Now that you’re in the know, here are some tips on how to prepare the best Buddha bowl at home.
Start with grains
Use cooked brown rice, quinoa, barley or bulgur. These are all considered whole grains and will help you stay satisfied longer and give you more health benefits than processed grains.
Test Kitchen tip: Check out the freezer aisle for quick-prep brown rice or quinoa.
Add the veggies
Repurpose cooked veggies by tossing in oil and spices or roasted bounty from the seasonal farmers market. Here’s your opportunity to use those weekly leftovers. Don’t forget to artfully arrange for presentation!
Think outside the bottle—no store-bought ranch or Thousand Island dressing here. Make a homemade vinaigrette that incorporates spicy Sriracha or Dijon mustard. Here are a few of my favorite scratch-made salad dressings.
Sprinkle with seeds
Add a shower of sesame seeds, pepitas or chia seeds. It’s the perfect opportunity to use a little of this and a little of that, so if you have leftovers hanging out in your pantry, toss them on!
Test Kitchen tip: Toasting the seeds in a skillet adds depth of flavor.
Add bonus ingredients
Consider adding a perfectly ripe sliced avocado or a soft-boiled egg. There are no rules: Buddha bowls are wide open to anything you’re craving.
It may originate from presenting a balanced meal, where balance is a key Buddhist concept, from the story of Buddha carrying his food bowl to fill it with whatever bits of food villagers would offer him, to the explanation of the overstuffed bowl resembling the belly of Budai, a 10th-century Chinese monk often confused ...
What is a Buddha Bowl? Legend has it, Buddha would wake before dawn, carrying a bowl through roads and paths, and let villagers fill his bowl with different kinds of food for him to devour.
Frequently asked questions. What are the 5 key components of a buddha bowl? A buddha bowl should contain a grain, a vegetable, a fat, a protein, and a sauce.
“The origin of the Buddha Bowl is quite literal – it is said that Buddha would carry a large bowl through the village and individuals would generously place food in the bowl as a donation,” says Martin Knaubert, Director of Food & Beverage, and former executive chef at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina.
Arms bent at elbows, holding an alms bowl at chest level. This statue signifies compassion and caring for all beings. Contrary to what many think, monks (and the Buddha) did NOT beg for food. Instead, they collected alms.
Each of the seven bowls used in offering water has a unique significance. The first bowl is for the Buddha to drink and cleanse his mouth or face.The second bowl is for the Buddha to wash his feet or take a bath, symbolizing the purification of our negative karma.
A Buddha bowl is a vegetarian meal, served on a single bowl or high-rimmed plate, which consists of small portions of several foods, served cold. These may include whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice, plant proteins such as chickpeas or tofu, and vegetables.
Buddha bowls are filling, healthy and fun meals that pack most of the nutrients your body needs. Preparing Buddha bowls can be a relaxing activity with a very rewarding payoff: you get a delicious and balanced meal that will enrich your day, body and soul, overall health and your Instagram/Pinterest feed.
This is called entrainment, or stimulating brain waves through pulsing sound or light. The sound waves from the bowl act on the energy field of your body and cause you to relax. Singing bowls may work by their vibrations as well as sound.
Struck bowls are used in some Buddhist religious practices to accompany periods of meditation and chanting. Struck and singing bowls are widely used for music making, meditation and relaxation, as well for personal spirituality. They have become popular with music therapists, sound healers and yoga practitioners.
There were no processed foods at this time, so it was likely to be simple and healthy – maybe a few beans, grains, vegetables, or stew. Buddha bowls are based on this principle of simplicity – a nutritionally and energetically balanced meal based on what is available, with fairly minimal prep.
The Buddha achieved awakening under the shelter of a sacred fig tree known as the bodhi tree. Since then, the bodhi tree has become a symbol of the Buddha's enlightenment, and the heart-shaped leaf a symbol of the potential that lies within each of us to awaken.
This daily alms round is a central practice for Theravada Buddhist monks and novices in much of Southeast Asia. It comes from the disciplinary rules for monks that instruct monks not to engage in agricultural labor, keep only a few possessions and eat only what is offered in their bowls each morning on the alms rounds.
The begging bowl or alms bowl is one of the simplest but most important objects in the daily lives of Buddhist monks. It is primarily a practical object, used as a bowl in which to collect alms (either money or food) from lay supporters.
The alms bowl still stands as an emblem of how all Buddhas, as numerous as grains of sand in the Ganges, practiced to end their desire. All those who receive the alms bowl should focus their mind to act with self-control and self-respect.
The sound of the bowl is said to create a vibration that resonates with our body's energy and helps restore balance and harmony to our energy. The benefits of Tibetan Singing Bowl meditation are numerous. It can help to reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, boost the immune system, and increase overall well-being.
The ball symbolizes a wealth ball which is supposed to bring wealth and prosperity to your home or office. Some people believe that the ball represents wisdom. Others also interpret it as 'peach' that brings good health and prosperity. Laughing Buddha Holding Beads.
Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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Photo: Shutterstock / Kiian Oksana