Rainbow Veggie Buddha Bowl with Sesame Ginger Dressing (Printable Version)

Vibrant bowl with fresh vegetables, grains, and zesty sesame ginger dressing for a satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Grains

01 - 1 cup brown rice or quinoa, uncooked
02 - 2 cups water

→ Fresh Vegetables

03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
05 - 1 cup shredded carrots
06 - 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
07 - 1 cup broccoli florets
08 - 1 avocado, sliced

→ Protein

09 - 1 cup cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed

→ Toppings

10 - 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
12 - 2 green onions, sliced

→ Sesame Ginger Dressing

13 - 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
14 - 3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
15 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
16 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
17 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
18 - 1 clove garlic, minced
19 - Juice of 1 lime

# Directions:

01 - Rinse brown rice or quinoa thoroughly. Add grains to a medium saucepan with 2 cups water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer covered for 15-20 minutes until tender and liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - While grains cook, wash and chop all vegetables according to specifications: halve cherry tomatoes, shred red cabbage and carrots, slice bell pepper into thin strips, cut broccoli into florets, and slice avocado.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together sesame oil, tamari or soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, and lime juice until well combined and emulsified.
04 - Lightly steam broccoli florets for 2-3 minutes until tender-crisp, or leave raw for additional crunch depending on texture preference.
05 - Divide cooked grains evenly among four bowls. Arrange cherry tomatoes, red cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, broccoli, avocado, and chickpeas in separate sections around each bowl to create a vibrant rainbow presentation.
06 - Drizzle sesame ginger dressing generously over each assembled bowl, coating vegetables and grains.
07 - Top each bowl with sesame seeds, fresh cilantro or parsley, and sliced green onions. Serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and feels way more impressive than the effort it actually takes.
  • The sesame ginger dressing is addictive enough that you'll find yourself making extra just to drizzle on everything for days.
  • Every vegetable stays true to itself—nothing gets mushy or forgotten—because you're building, not cooking everything together.
02 -
  • Avocados oxidize and turn brown within minutes, so slice them last and serve the bowl immediately—don't let it sit waiting for someone.
  • The dressing is strong by design, so don't be shy with it, but also taste your salad before adding everything because different brands of tamari vary in saltiness.
03 -
  • Cook your grains a day ahead and store them in the fridge—you'll have a faster assembly and they'll actually hold up better structurally in the bowl.
  • Make the dressing fresh each time rather than storing it, because the ginger loses its brightness after a day or two and the flavors blur together.
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