Tofu Buddha Bowl

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This tofu buddha bowl features a blend of fiber-rich whole grains, vibrant veggies, and crispy, protein-packed tofu. It’s the perfect dish to keep you full and energized for hours! Add a drizzle of your favorite sauce or dressing for the ultimate meal.

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• Balanced: Buddha bowls are known for their balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and fats, ensuring a nutritious and filling meal for you.
• Easily customizable: Whether you prefer extra spice or different veggies, you can easily tweak this recipe until it’s just right for you.
• Vegan-friendly: Whether you’re vegan or not, this bowl always hits the spot!
• Perfect for meal prep: Prepare the ingredients in batches, then store them for quick lunches and dinners all week long.

If you love protein-packed dishes like this tofu buddha bowl, you should really check out our kung pao tofu, sesame tofu, pan-fried tofu, or vegan butter chicken.

🥗 What is a tofu buddha bowl?

A buddha bowl, macro bowl, grain bowl, power bowl, or whatever else you know it by is essentially a dish filled so full that it has a rounded “belly” appearance on the top, much like the depicted round belly of Buddha. In our version, we like to include tofu for added protein and texture.

The tofu cubes are first tossed in savory seasonings, then they’re baked until they’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. And who can resist the subtle sweetness and creaminess of roasted sweet potatoes to complement the savory flavors?

We’ve included additional fresh veggies in this recipe, but you can experiment to find out what you like best! Serve it with garnishes like avocado slices, lime wedges, hummus, nuts, and seeds for a colorful, nutritious meal that caters to both the eyes and the palate.

🌱 Are buddha bowls vegan?

Generally speaking, buddha bowls are quite vegan-friendly. However, a few things to keep in mind are the sauces and garnishes. These are where you’ll sometimes find dairy or egg products.

It’s actually quite easy to keep your sauces 100% vegan though with options like hummus, mashed avocado, tahini, and cashew-based sauce. For the toppings, just use dairy-free cheese if you’re adding some.

🛒 Ingredients & substitutions

• Brown rice: Offers a nutty flavor and is a great source of whole grains, which provides fiber, B vitamins, and more. Other whole grains to try include quinoa, barley, bulgar, buckwheat, wild rice, and kamut.
• Olive oil: To cook the sweet potatoes and green peas. We prefer extra-virgin olive oil but you can also use avocado, safflower, sunflower, or canola oil.
• Sweet potatoes: Add sweetness and a soft, creamy texture. You can use orange or white sweet potatoes, or try butternut squash, pumpkin, kabocha squash, etc.
• Peas: Green peas offer a pop of color and a burst of sweet flavor. You can also use steamed edamame beans for an equally delicious alternative.
• Tofu: The primary protein source of this tofu buddha bowl. Tofu is mild in flavor and absorbs marinades like a sponge! You can also try tempeh for a nuttier taste.
• Liquid aminos: To add a savory, umami flavor to the tofu. If you don’t have liquid aminos, try tamari, coconut aminos, or soy sauce if you’re not gluten-free.
• Nutritional yeast: Infuses savory, cheesy notes into the tofu. You can find nutritional yeast in most bulk food stores, the health food aisle of grocery stores, or even online.
• Spices: We use a simple seasoning mix of garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Feel free to use other seasonings like turmeric, cumin, coriander, curry powder, garam masala, rosemary, paprika, or thyme.
• Other veggies: We used a mixture of spinach, bell peppers, carrots, and red cabbage, but feel free to use whatever you have on hand. Think steamed kale or chard, corn, arugula, broccoli or broccolini, zucchini, or Brussels sprouts.

For a complete ingredient list and step-by-step guide, scroll down to our recipe card.

📝 How to make a tofu buddha bowl

Step 1: Build the base

We always emphasize the importance of a good base! It sets the tone for the whole bowl. Begin by rinsing your rice thoroughly to remove excess starch, then cook it in a pressure cooker or on the stovetop.

Step 2: Roast the sweet potatoes

Lightly coat the sweet potatoes with olive oil, garlic powder, sea salt, and pepper. Spread the cubes out evenly on a parchment-lined pan, and roast them until golden-brown. Roasting enhances the natural sugars in sweet potatoes, so it’s our preferred cooking method.

Step 3: Roast the tofu

Ensure the tofu is well-pressed so it absorbs the marinade better. Toss the tofu cubes with the rest of the garlic powder, nutritional yeast, liquid aminos, salt, and pepper. Roast them on a separate baking sheet until they’re golden brown and crispy.

Step 4: Prep the other veggies

Heat a touch more oil in a pan on low, then cook the green peas until heated through. Season them with a pinch more garlic powder, salt, and pepper. In the meantime, cut up the rest of the fresh vegetables.

Step 5: Build the bowls

Begin with a layer of brown rice, then spinach, tofu cubes, sweet potatoes, and the rest of the vegetables. Garnish each bowl with red onion slices, lime juice, avocado slices, and your dressing of choice. Happy eating!

If you have questions about this tofu buddha bowl recipe, check out our FAQs or leave a comment down below!

🍋 Best sauces for tofu buddha bowls

Take the flavors of your tofu buddha bowl to the next level by using a variety of sauces! Here are some of our favorite options:

• Homemade hummus recipe
• Beet hummus
• Creamy balsamic dressing
• Lemon tahini dressing
• Lemon herb tahini
• Baba ganoush
• Vegan tzatziki
• Vegan pesto

🌡️ Storage & reheating

These tofu buddha bowls are great to make and store ahead of time or save for leftovers. Here’s how to keep everything fresh:

• Fridge: Keep all the ingredients in separate containers and store them in the fridge for up to a week. You can store a fully dressed tofu buddha bowl for about 1-2 days without it becoming too soggy.
• Freezer: We don’t recommend freezing your tofu Buddha bowl. The texture of the veggies will change too much once thawed. However, you can freeze leftover rice.
• Reheating: Buddha bowls are often enjoyed cold, but if you prefer yours warm, heat the tofu, veggies, and rice on the stovetop, using a little oil if needed.
• Prep ahead: Prepare the tofu, grains, and roasted veggies, then store them in separate containers in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, just assemble everything with freshly chopped veggies in a bowl.

♻️ Variations

• Dressing: Drizzle with your bowl with vegan ranch or vegan Caesar dressing.
• Nuts & seeds: Add roasted almonds, pecans, pine nuts, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, hemp hearts, or chia seeds for a crunch.
• Spicy: Include red pepper flakes or pickled jalapeños.
• Sweet: Drizzle your bowl with maple syrup or agave to impart some sweetness.
• Tangy: Top the bowls with pickled onions, sauerkraut, or vegan kimchi.
• Umami: Sprinkle your tofu buddha bowl with nori flakes or vegan furikake.
• Tangy: Add dollops of coconut yogurt or dairy-free sour cream.
• Legumes: Sprinkle on roasted chickpeas, cannellini beans, butterbeans, great northern beans, black beans, or red kidney beans.

🧑‍🍳 Top tips

• Tofu preparation: Don’t forget to press the tofu for optimal marinade absorption and a crispy texture.
• Cut the veggies equally: Ensure you cut all the veggies into even sizes for consistent cooking and flavor distribution.
• Rinse the rice: This removes excess starch and prevents a mushy, sticky texture.
• Layer properly: Start your bowl with grains at the bottom, then top them with tofu and veggies for the proper balance.
• Bowl size matters: Use deep, large bowls to make layering and eating easier.
• Add the dressing last: Add the dressing just before serving to avoid any sogginess.

💬 FAQ

🍴 More tofu recipes

If you enjoyed this tofu Buddha bowl, test out some more of our most popular tofu recipes like these:

• Tofu Marinade: Four different seasoning options so your tofu never gets old.
• Teriyaki Tofu: Sweet, savory, and bold tofu mixed with veggies and rice.
• Tofu Scramble: A simple tofu scramble packed with protein.
• Vegan Feta Cheese: A plant-based take on traditional feta cheese.

Note: We’ve updated this post to include new information and helpful tips about the recipe.