Rainbow Buddha Bowl With Quinoa (Printable)

A colorful grain bowl with quinoa, fresh vegetables, chickpeas, and creamy tahini dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Protein

04 - 1 cup cooked chickpeas, drained

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
06 - 1 cup carrots, julienned
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cup yellow bell pepper, sliced
09 - 1 cup cucumber, sliced
10 - 1 cup fresh baby spinach

→ Healthy Fats & Toppings

11 - 1 ripe avocado, sliced
12 - 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
13 - 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

→ Dressing

14 - 3 tablespoons tahini
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
17 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
18 - 1 clove garlic, minced
19 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add rinsed quinoa and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, let rest 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
02 - While quinoa cooks, slice red cabbage thinly, julienne carrots, halve cherry tomatoes, slice bell pepper and cucumber, and slice avocado just before assembly.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, minced garlic, 2 tablespoons water, salt, and pepper until smooth. Add additional water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
04 - Divide cooked quinoa evenly among 4 serving bowls. Arrange chickpeas, red cabbage, carrots, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, spinach, and avocado in colorful sections on top of quinoa.
05 - Drizzle each bowl with tahini dressing. Sprinkle with toasted pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks so stunning that you'll actually want to photograph it, and then you'll eat something genuinely good for you without feeling like you're missing out.
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, which means you can have a restaurant-quality bowl on your table without the restaurant price tag or the guilt of ordering takeout again.
  • The tahini dressing is creamy enough that you forget there's no dairy involved, and it makes you feel like you've discovered a kitchen secret.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa or you'll end up with a slightly bitter grain that throws off the whole balance of the bowl.
  • Tahini separates if it sits around, so give it a good stir before you use it, and whisk your dressing confidently to get it fully emulsified.
  • Pack leftover bowls without the dressing and avocado, then dress them fresh when you're ready to eat; they'll actually stay fresh for two days in the fridge.
03 -
  • Toast your own pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds in a dry pan for just a few minutes to wake up their flavor; it makes a noticeable difference in how the bowl tastes.
  • Keep cooked quinoa in the fridge for quick lunches throughout the week, and build different bowls each day with whatever vegetables you have.
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