Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl (GF & Vegan)

This sweet potato buddha bowl is an easy and delicious way to pack a lot of nutrition, flavor, and antioxidants into one bowl.

When I first went plant-based, I found myself eating a random mish-mash of stuff for dinner every night. I wasn’t sure if I was getting adequate nutrition, but also wasn’t sure how to build a meal to make sure it included everything I needed. Frankly, I didn’t even know what I needed! So, I made this guide to make dinner a whole lot easier! If you follow these steps, you’ll end up with a nutrient dense and delicious meal every time.

What is a Buddha Bowl and why is it called that?

Up until 30 seconds ago, I had no idea why a “Buddha Bowl” was actually called a Buddha Bowl. So naturally, I decided to google it. A “Buddha Bowl,” according to urban dictionary, is “a bowl which is packed so full that it has a rounded ‘belly’ appearance on the top much like the belly of a buddha.” I’d say that’s pretty accurate!

Also, while the phrase “everything in moderation” has it’s time and place, when you’re eating nutrient dense whole plant foods, there really isn’t a need for moderation! You’ll likely get full long before you max out on calories. Plant foods are naturally lower in calories, so you can eat a great volume of food while still eating fewer calories than processed foods or animal products.

These bowls are flavorful, filling, and packed with skin loving nutrients! They’re incredibly versatile too. Just swap out these veggies for any others you like, throw in some tempeh, roasted onions, the list goes on.

Do you eat Buddha Bowls hot or cold?

Either! There is really no right or wrong way to have a buddha bowl, that is the beauty of them. This particular recipe is best eaten warm, but would also be delicious cold! Whether you eat buddha bowls hot or cold is totally up to you.

My foolproof Buddha Bowl guide:

1. Start with a bed of greens→ If you follow me on instagram, you know just how much I love my greens! They’re one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. I always start my bowl with a base of greens. I like arugula, spinach, or kale to get as many nutrients into my body as I can!
2. Add a starch→ One of the worst health fads of all time was the idea that starchy vegetables, and carbs of all kinds, are bad for you. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Starches, like yams, pumpkin, quinoa, brown rice, etc. are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and complex carbohydrates to fuel your cells. These foods give us lasting energy to power our muscles, brains and more.
3. Load on the veggies →  We should all be aiming to eat the rainbow every day. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t! We need a variety of colors to get various phytonutrients, minerals, anti-inflammatory, and cancer fighting compounds into our bodies. From broccoli, to tomatoes, onions, cabbage, carrots, there’s got to be something out there you will enjoy.
4. Pick a protein→ While the protein obsession these days is a bit crazy, protein is an absolutely essential macronutrient that is crucial for enzyme production, hormone production, oxygen transport, muscle development, and so much more. There are nine essential amino acids, all of which you can get from plants! Quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine. Some of my other favorite plant proteins include tempeh, beans, and lentils.
5. Add the healthy fats→ The healthy fats in buddha bowls are what will keep you satiated for longer. Fats slow gastric emptying (how long it takes food to leave your stomach), so they keep you full for longer. Additionally, they also contain essential fatty acids to soften your skin from the inside out and give you a golden glow!
6. Spice it up→ The key to eating more veggies is to make sure they actually taste good! Don’t be afraid to load on the herbs and spices, or healthy dressings like the lemon garlic tahini dressing here.

This simple sweet potato buddha bowl is the perfect place to start if you’re new to meals like this. It has an array of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. If you give this recipe a try, leave a comment below and tell me how you liked it!

Want more buddha bowl recipes? Try this easy detox spring buddha bowl with sesame tempeh! As always, tag me on instagram if you make this recipe so I can see your creation! Don’t forget to leave a comment and rating if you enjoy this recipe!

Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowls

• Author: Claire Cary
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Cuisine: American

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Description

Buddha bowls are an easy and delicious way to pack a lot of nutrition, flavor, and  antioxidants into one bowl. 

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Ingredients

• 2 medium-large sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup dry quinoa 
• 1 head broccoli, chopped into florets
• 2 large handfuls kale, stems removed 
• 1/2 avocado 
• 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 
• 1 tbsp olive oil 
• 1 tsp cumin
• 3/4 tsp chili powder
• 3/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp each salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 batch lemon garlic tahini dressing 

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Wash and dry your sweet potatoes and cut into large chunks. They can be as big or as small as you like. 
3. Drizzle with a touch of olive oil and a pinch of salt and add to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. 
4. In a medium pot, add the dry quinoa and cook according to package instructions (I suggest a 1:2 ratio of quinoa to water, or vegetable broth for more flavor). 
5. To prepare the veggies, wash them well to get rid of any dirt, chop into florets or bite size pieces and add to a steamer basket or a sauté pan with a splash of water and steam, covered, for about 5-10 minutes or until kale is wilted and the broccoli is softer, but still slightly crispy. 
6. While the sweet potatoes are roasting, heat a large skillet over medium heat.
7. Add the drained chickpeas to a mixing bowl and toss with seasonings.
8. Once the skillet is hot, add 1 tbsp oil and chickpeas and sauté, stirring frequently for about 10 minutes. They are done when they’re warmed up and slightly browning on the outside.
9. To serve, add the steamed greens to bowls, top with the quinoa, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, avocado, and drizzle with the tahini dressing. 
10. Add additional salt and pepper if desired and enjoy! 

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Keywords: buddha bowl recipe, sweet potato buddha bowl, chickpea buddha, how to make a buddha bowl