Lunch  |  Quick and Easy  |  Recipes  |  Vegan

Buddha Bowl +
Sunflower Seed Dressing

September 17, 2019  |  By: Whitney E. RD

This Buddha Bowl with sunflower seed dressing is so easy to make and packed with nutrients. It’s also “customizabowl”, so you can add your favorite veggies!

I have a go-to checklist for my meals: beans, greens, and grains. Aka some of the most nutrient-dense foods.

BEANS

When most people think of beans, they think of black beans or pinto beans. But did you know that there are actually about 40,000 different bean varieties?! Though only a fraction are produced for consumption.

Beans are nutrient powerhouses, and there are different types for every cuisine. In this recipe, I used chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), which I love because of their versatility.

GREENS

Next are greens. When I say greens, I’m talking cruciferous veggies like kale, broccoli, chard, collard greens, cabbage or even cauliflower (an honorary green!). I also include spinach in my “greens” category, even though it is not technically a cruciferous veggie.

You might be thinking “crucifa-what?”. Cruciferous is Latin for “cross-bearing”, so cruciferous refers to vegetables whose four leaves resemble a cross. Cruciferous veggies are awesome because when they’re chopped or chewed, they release bioactive compounds that have been shown to help prevent cancer.

I add greens to my meals whenever I can for that extra nutrient boost.

GRAINS

Last, but not least – grains. Honestly, I don’t know how I’d live without grains. From my go-to Super Seed Oatmeal, to my daily lunch, which often consists of a sandwich, I’m all about those complex carbs – at every meal. Like both beans and greens, there are so many grains to choose from. Some of my favorites include oats, quinoa, and whole grain sprouted bread.

I love this Buddha Bowl because it includes all three of these nutrient powerhouses: beans, greens, and grains. Plus, the sunflower seed dressing adds a dose of healthy fat.

I usually prep some veggies at the beginning of the week to make it easier when it comes to meal time. And if you have everything ready to go, this bowl takes less than 5 minutes to make!

Buddha Bowl +
Sunflower Seed Dressing

 

Print

Prep time

3 mins

Total time

3 mins

 

This Buddha Bowl is customizable and made with a creamy sunflower seed dressing.

Author: Whitney English

Recipe type: Lunch, Dinner

Cuisine: Vegan

Serves: 1 with extra dressing

Ingredients

Buddha Bowl

• 1 cup grains
• ½ cup beans
• ¼ cup each of your favorite 4-5 veggies

Sunflower Seed Dressing

• ½ cup sunflower seeds soaked in 1½ cups water (save the soaking water)
• 1 large or 2 small garlic cloves, left whole
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• 1 medjool date, pitted
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Assemble your bowl with the grains on the bottom and the beans and veggies on top.
2. Put all of the dressing ingredients (including the soaking water) in a high-speed blender and blend on high until smooth.
3. Pour some dressing over your Buddha Bowl and enjoy!

3.5.3226

Weigh in: What are your favorite veggies to add to a Buddha Bowl? Will you try this combo?