Rainbow Buddha Bowl With Quinoa (Printable Version)

Vibrant grain bowl with quinoa, fresh vegetables, chickpeas, and creamy tahini dressing for a wholesome meal.

# 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 (or drained canned chickpeas)

→ 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 lemon juice
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
17 - 2 tablespoons water (more as needed)
18 - 1 clove garlic, minced
19 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# Directions:

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

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything can be prepped ahead, making weekday lunches feel luxurious instead of rushed
  • The tahini dressing is creamy and satisfying without any dairy
  • You get to eat the entire color spectrum in one bowl
02 -
  • Room temperature quinoa absorbs dressing better than hot quinoa does
  • The tahini dressing thickens in the fridge and needs a splash more water before using
  • Slicing avocado just before serving prevents unappetizing brown spots
03 -
  • Double the dressing and keep it in the fridge for salads all week
  • Prep all vegetables on Sunday for effortless Monday through Thursday lunches
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