Easy Vegan Buddha Bowl with Creamy Tahini Dressing

June 8, 2025Melanie

If you’re looking for a healthy, filling, and easy-to-make meal, you’ll love this vegan Buddha bowl with tahini dressing. It brings together crispy veggies, complex carbs, plant-based protein, and healthy fats — perfect for a balanced, satisfying dish that keeps you full for hours.

Whether for meal prep at the office or a colorful dinner, Buddha bowls are endlessly adaptable and a great way to bring variety into your plant-based routine!

What Is a Buddha Bowl?

A Buddha bowl is a vibrant, nutrient-rich bowl packed with fresh, plant-based ingredients. It combines complex carbohydrates, plant proteins, healthy fats, and crunchy vegetables in a single, satisfying meal, often with a mix of warm and cold elements and finished off with a delicious dressing.

The idea? Balance, variety, and nourishment in one bowl.

Key Components of a Vegan Buddha Bowl (and why they’re so good for you)

Complex Carbohydrate Base

Choose whole grains like quinoa, millet, couscous, or brown rice. They provide long-lasting energy, are rich in fiber, and support digestion. Bonus: quinoa is also high in plant-based protein and naturally gluten-free.

2. Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are full of beta-carotene, fiber, and slow-digesting carbs. Roasting them brings out their natural sweetness and adds a caramelized, cozy element to your bowl.

3. Fresh, Colorful Vegetables

Add crunch and color with ingredients like cherry tomatoes, cucumber, or bell peppers. Leafy greens like kale, arugula, or baby spinach bring iron, folate, and antioxidants to the mix.

4. Plant-Based Protein

Go for chickpeas — roasted or spiced with cumin, paprika, garlic, or chili — to keep you satisfied and boost protein. Edamame, marinated tofu, or even tempeh are great alternatives.

5. Healthy Fats with Avocado and More

Avocado adds creaminess and provides healthy monounsaturated fats and potassium. Top your bowl with nuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, or hemp seeds for added crunch and nutrients. Guacamole is also a great alternative here!

6. The Dressing: Creamy Tahini

Tahini, made from ground sesame seeds, brings a rich, nutty flavor along with calcium, iron, and healthy fats. Blend it with lemon juice, soy sauce, a little sweetener, and garlic for a creamy dressing that ties the bowl together perfectly.

How to Make a Buddha Bowl

Kitchen tools you’ll need:
Rice cooker or pot, strainer, cutting board, sharp knife, baking sheet, bowls, blender, non-stick pan.

Steps:

Cook the grain (e.g. quinoa or rice), then let it cool slightly.
Roast the sweet potatoes with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper until soft and golden.
Prep the veggies: halve the tomatoes, slice the cucumber, wash the greens.
Prepare your protein: roast or spice chickpeas, sauté tofu, or steam edamame.
Mix the tahini dressing: blend tahini with water, lemon juice, garlic, soy sauce, and a dash of maple syrup until smooth.
Assemble everything in a bowl. Play with textures and colors. Top with seeds or nuts and drizzle with the dressing.

FAQ – Vegan Buddha Bowl & Tahini Dressing

Why is a Buddha bowl so satisfying?
The combination of complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats offers balanced energy and lasting fullness — without that heavy feeling.

Can I use a different dressing?
Absolutely! Tahini is a favorite, but you can also try a peanut dressing, a soy yogurt-lime dip, or a classic mustard-lemon vinaigrette.

What can I use instead of chickpeas?
Lentils, marinated tofu, smoked tempeh, or lupin-based products work great as high-protein, plant-based options.

How long does the tahini dressing last?
Stored in an airtight container in the fridge, it keeps for 4–5 days. Stir or thin it with a little water before serving if it thickens.

Is this bowl meal prep-friendly?
Yes! You can prep each component ahead of time and store them separately. Assemble your bowl fresh when you’re ready to eat – ideal for lunch at work or a quick dinner.

Final Thoughts: Your Bowl, Your Rules

This vegan Buddha bowl with tahini dressing isn’t just a colorful eye-catcher — it’s a nutrient-dense power meal. Whether enjoyed warm or cold, for lunch or dinner, you can mix and match the ingredients to your liking. Just focus on balance, flavor, and texture.

Pro tip: The more color, the more variety — and the more nutrients on your plate!

Looking for more easy and nutrient-rich recipe ideas? Then you might also enjoy these recipes:

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?

I would love to hear your feedback! If you give this recipe a try, please leave a comment with a ⭐ rating. Are you active on Instagram? If you post a picture of this recipe, be sure to tag me @plantiful.heart so I can see your creation!

Vegan Buddha Bowl with Creamy Tahini Dressing

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