One might assume by calling this a “Buddha Bowl” I’m making some kind of political or religious statement, when in fact, I am not. I just like giant bowls of food.

A “Buddha Bowl,” as defined by 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.”

That’s my kind of dinner. Let’s do this!

Origins of The 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 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).

I first heard of Buddha Bowls somewhere within the vegan community and personally understand them as a big bowl of plant-based goodness, which is precisely what this recipe is!

What started off as a mission to make a chickpea breakfast skillet turned into a sweet and savory dish that would satisfy vegans and meat-eaters alike.

Plus, it’s simple – requiring just 30 minutes. And it’s ridiculously healthy – loaded with four kinds of vegetables, fiber- and protein-rich chickpeas, and a maple-tahini sauce that’s so good you’ll want to put it on everything.

It all starts by roasting your vegetables in the oven. While those are baking away, simply sauté your chickpeas to crispy perfection and whisk up your 3-ingredient tahini sauce.

All that’s left to do is put it all together and take your taste buds to flavor town.

This bowl is literally all I’ve been craving since perfecting this recipe. It’s:

Savory + Sweet

Subtly spiced

Warm

Comforting

Incredibly satisfying

Seriously healthy

& Packed with flavor

If you give this recipe a try, let us know how you like it! Leave a comment, share it, and rate it – it’s super helpful for us and other readers.

And as always, don’t forget to take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram. We love seeing what you cook up. Cheers!

Want More Bowl Ideas?