Rainbow Buddha Bowl With Quinoa (Printable)

A nourishing grain bowl with quinoa, crisp vegetables, chickpeas, and creamy tahini dressing.

# 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, drained

→ 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 and 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
17 - 2 tablespoons water, plus more as needed
18 - 1 clove garlic, minced
19 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How-To:

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 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 avocado. Set aside in separate containers.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, lemon juice, maple syrup, minced garlic, 2 tablespoons water, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Add additional water as needed to achieve desired consistency.
04 - Divide cooked 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 base.
05 - Drizzle each bowl with tahini dressing. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds over the top. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks so beautiful on the plate that you'll want to photograph it before eating, and somehow that makes it taste even better.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble in minutes, making it perfect for meal prep or unexpected guests.
  • The combination of textures—creamy, crunchy, chewy—keeps every bite interesting without feeling fussy.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa—it removes the bitter coating and makes a real difference in flavor.
  • If you're meal prepping, keep the avocado and dressing separate until you're ready to eat; everything else stays fresh in the fridge for 2 days.
  • The dressing will thicken as it sits, so whisk in extra water just before serving if it becomes too thick.
03 -
  • Toast your pumpkin and sesame seeds in a dry pan for just 2 minutes before adding—this brings out their nuttiness and makes them taste intentional rather than like an afterthought.
  • If you're taking this bowl to work, keep the dressing in a separate container and drizzle it right before eating so nothing gets soggy.
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