Quinoa Buddha Bowl (Printer-friendly)

Wholesome plant-based bowl featuring quinoa, roasted vegetables, chickpeas, and tahini dressing. Vegan and gluten-free.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

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

→ Roasted Vegetables

04 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 1 small zucchini, sliced
07 - 1 cup broccoli florets
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Legumes

11 - 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Tahini Dressing

12 - 1/3 cup tahini
13 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
14 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
15 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or agave nectar
16 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
17 - Salt to taste

→ Toppings

18 - 1 avocado, sliced
19 - 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
20 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Set oven to 425°F (220°C).
02 - Arrange sweet potato, bell pepper, zucchini, and broccoli on a large baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
03 - Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and slightly caramelized.
04 - Rinse quinoa under cold water. In a saucepan, combine quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
05 - Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, water, maple syrup, garlic, and salt until smooth. Adjust water as needed to achieve a pourable consistency.
06 - Divide cooked quinoa among four bowls. Top with roasted vegetables and chickpeas. Drizzle with tahini dressing and garnish with avocado slices, pumpkin seeds, and fresh herbs.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every bite offers a different texture: creamy avocado, crunchy seeds, tender quinoa, and crispy roasted edges.
  • It holds up beautifully in the fridge, so you can meal prep four lunches in one go without any sogginess.
  • The tahini dressing is so good you'll want to drizzle it on everything for the rest of the week.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa, the natural coating called saponin makes it taste bitter and soapy if you leave it on.
  • If your tahini dressing seizes up and gets thick, just whisk in more water a little at a time until it loosens again.
  • Give the vegetables space on the sheet, overcrowding traps steam and you'll end up with soft vegetables instead of crispy caramelized ones.
03 -
  • Roast your chickpeas on the same tray as the vegetables for an extra crispy, savory topping that adds serious crunch.
  • Make a double batch of tahini dressing and keep it in a jar, it lasts a week and transforms any salad or grain bowl instantly.
  • If your quinoa turns out mushy, spread it on a baking sheet and toast it in the oven for five minutes to dry it out and bring back some texture.
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