Nourishing Garden Veggie Vegan Buddha Bowl! This wholesome and healthy Buddha bowl recipe, (aka hippie bowls) is filled with superfood ingredients and a delicious way to get a variety of nutrients into your diet! Gluten free, easy, Buddha approved!
Don’t judge me. But today, I have another “power” bowl recipe that uses up the best of leftover ingredients. Yes, a nourishing BUDDHA-FUL BOWL! No really, it looks like you just planted a summer garden in this bowl then everything sprouted. Yes, I just took the term plant based to a whole new level! Too much perhaps? Nah. I’m all about the hippie factor. Plus I have a MEGA importanto reason why this garden veggie vegan buddha bowl needs to happen in your life.
You ready? It’s gonna nourish you mind body and soul! Emphasis on mind and body.
THE EPIC ingredients in this vegan buddha bowl are all very healing for the body. In fact, I think Monday we should be required to eat a garden veggie buddha bowl. I know Mr. Buddha man (let’s call him that) would approve too! It’s full of ancient grains (wild rice, long grain rice, and quinoa), roasted spicy peas (which can be homemade, yay!), radishes, watercress, sun dried raisins, shallots, roasted pumpkin seeds, herbs, and olive oil/balsamic vinegar dressing. In fact, I think his buddha belly would become quite a slimmer if he ate more of these types of buddha bowls.
Haha. Okay, digress.
Out of all these buddha bowl Ingredients, there are 3 that really SHINE!
Watercress, Radish, and pumpkin seeds.
Radishes are high in Vitamin C, aid in digestion (due to ..), and did you know according to eastern medicine, they actually help cool the body down during warmer months? OMG I NEED ALL THE RADISHES
Pumpkin Seeds are rich in Minerals that help boost the immune system (zinc in particular) and contain an excellent source of plant based protein and omega-3’s fats.
And then there’s WATERCRESS! This has to be one of my favorite herbs/greens used in a recovery dish. In fact, I used to throw some watercress in my husband’s green smoothie or rice bowl post workout or during an intense training/race week. It’s definitely a POWERHOUSE food.
According to the study published in Centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) journal, watercress is known as the most nutrient dense food. Hence why it tops the list of “powerhouse fruits and vegetables“. (source)
It contains over 200% vitamin k per serving. Vitamin K which helps heal neurological damage to the brain.
Watercress is also rich in minerals, vitamin A, C and B complex. All so important for vegans and vegetarians on a plant based diet. Watercress’ nourishing nutrients have found to prevent osteoporosis, anemia, and vitamin-A deficiency.
Watercress has a peppery taste, which is why it why it pairs well with a dried fruit and a balsamic vinegar/oil dressing. But you can really add it to so many other things. Gives your meal a little peppery PUNCH!
Hence the POWERHOUSE. LOL! Make me stop.
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Garden Veggie Vegan Buddha Bowl (gluten free)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Nourishing Garden Veggie Vegan Buddha Bowl! A Wholesome and healthy gluten free Buddha bowl recipe the whole family loves.
Ingredients
- â…”c to 1 cup cooked rice (blended wild and white or brown)
- â…”c to 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 cup whole radish (about 5-6)
- ½ cup crunchy spicy peas or chickpeas (see notes roasted spicy peas for homemade version)
- ¼ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
- â…“ cup raisins or dried berries
- 2 cups (bunched) watercress
- 1 shallot sliced
- Fresh basil
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp Oil and vinegar or my goddess dressing (see notes for link to recipe)
- Optional – ½ teaspoon crushed garlic mixed in rice or with dressing
Instructions
- First make sure your rice and quinoa are cooked. Follow instructions according to package or just use leftovers from another dish. I like to place a mix of quinoa and rice in the rice cooker and use throughout the week. See my notes in post.
- Next slice your radishes and shallots.
- Clean and remove stems from watercress.
- Arrange all ingredients in one big bowl or two smaller bowls.
- Garnish with basil, sea salt, and pepper.
- Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil/vinegar.
- ENJOY!
Notes
If you want to make a creamy dressing, try my green goddess dressing with this. Soo good!
if you want to make homemade roasted spicy peas, see my recipe wasabi pea recipe
- Prep Time: 10 min
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 18.9 g
- Sodium: 49.2 g
- Fat: 15.7 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.3 g
- Fiber: 7.2 g
- Protein: 12.6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Cotter Cooking Tips – > Oh, I like the sound of that. So, about the rice/Quinoa. I love using leftover rice/quinoa from previous dishes to make this bowl. BUT… I also have a little trick. I place ¼c each (rice, wild rice, and quinoa) in a rice cooker. Cook with 2 cups broth or water. You then get a lovely crunchy ancient grain mix. Which you can use in dishes all week. The wild rice will not cook all the way, which is what I like. It makes the “pilaf” blend more nutty crunchy if it’s 75% cooked.
This has become a staple weekly recipe in our house. We use Right Rice (vegetable based rice that cooks in 12 mins) instead of rice/quinoa, red onion instead of shallots (b/c we always have red onion on hand), and whatever greens we have instead of watercress. It’s my backup when we work late or are too lazy to make a labor intensive meal. I’ve shared this recipe with so many people.
Thanks for the lunch inspiration
Glad to hear Abby!
This is absolutely gorgeous. Bring on the Buddha bowls.
And Buddha belly
This looks super delicious. I could eat a bowl like this one every single day.
I say go for it! Haha
Lindsay, I put ANYTHING in bowls. Even stir-fries and salads. NO joke, haha! Nothing wrong with a good bowl recipe!
Lindsey!!!! So I haven’t checked out your blog in years ever since I pretty much stopped reading health/food/fitness blogs and my goodness I’ve been missing out! This looks amazing as do so many of your other recipes. I’m going to try to head to Austin this fall to visit my BFF maybe we can meet again for coffee. Or maybe you can make me lunch. 😉 Yes I just invited myself over. Sorry!
Oh yes!! I would love that!! When in the fall? Miss you
I almost picked up watercress last night at the grocery store but decided against it for collard greens. I can only store so many green veggies in the fridge at once before Dave calls it a jungle lol!! This buddha bowl looks amazing!!
OMG I need all the radishes to help cool me down these days! I love buddha bowls… so delicious and easy!!
This is my kinda meal! I loveeeeeeee Buddha bowls as you can load them up with your favourite things!
I’m not reading your blog any more until you start delivering. I’m STARVING!!!
haha fine! on my way
That is truly BuddhaFUL! I haven’t had watercress in forever but now I am going to make a point to pick it up from the store ASAP!
this buddha bowl looks amazing! definitely ideal for me to make to reset my health this week. love how fresh and vibrant it is. Xx
This sounds like the perfect lunch! I a;ways loved radishes and watercress, now I have even more reason to keep them around the house!
Yes you do! Wish we could have a lunch date
Great recipe. Have to get some radishes. Had no idea they help with digestion.
Right? Love that little veggie even more
That looks so amazing Lindsay!!!!
I am all about minimal cooking in the summer! And I love that you said Buddhafull…haha. Wish you were my neighbor. 🙂
I wish I was too!
Watercress is something I always pass on – but am gonna think twice now that I know they are chock full of nutrients! Awesome budha bowl my friend! Happy Monday!
I’ve been snacking on pumpkin seeds AND radishes like crazy lately. I used to think I didn’t like radishes, but they’re so crunchy and have a little bit of a bite. Love. I’ll have to keep my eyes out for watercress. I’m all for mixing up my greens!
yes! don’t you just love that crunch? I feel like a rabbit. LOL!
This looks deeeelicious. I need to make one of these STAT.
Trade you for smoothie? Hehe
No one passes up a buddha bowl! Love all the goodies you put in here!
Amen to that!
Just when I think your recipes can’t get any better! Of course pinned for menu planning.
haha you are too kind!
Buddha Bowls are my jam, love them to bits. Mostly because I am a very indecisive eater, so they enable me to eat so many things in one bowl 🙂
yes! my thoughts exactly! i would love your buddha bowl recipe!
Gorgeous! I love all of these ingredients individually, so I’m sure the bowl is amazing. I love the pop of sweetness from the raisins, too. Beautiful, Lindsay!
bring your quinoa bowl over and let’s have a party!
Oh wow! This looks so delicious. I need to get my watercress on appartmently! Love all your corny nutrition and tips. Although it’s not so corny to me. 😉
it’s “supposedly” high in iodine too. good for hormone health.
I didn’t know that watercress packed such a nutrient punch! I do like it, so I’ll keep my eye out for it. I’ve recently turned Alex on to Radishes. We love them!
radishes for all!!! haha