Spicy Chickpea Buddha Bowl | Indian-Inspired Vegan Hummus Bowl
Spicy Chickpea Buddha Bowl – Vegan Buddha Bowl / Hummus Bowl Recipe!
Okay, you’ve probably seen all of the gorgeous bowls stuffed with colorful, wholesome foods popping up everywhere on the Internet. But, what IS a Buddha bowl, exactly? Well, there’s no set Buddha bowl ‘recipe,’ but this spicy chickpea Buddha bowl is my personal favorite!
Really, there’s not a 100% agreed-upon definition for a Buddha bowl. And, there doesn’t seem to be a specific link between them and ‘Buddha’ or any particular culture. In general terms: a Buddha bowl is a nutritious, balanced, plant-based meal all packed into the same bowl.
This spicy chickpea Buddha bowl features deliciously simple Indian-inspired components: sauteed spinach, a tomato and onion salad, and spicy roasted chickpeas. So, you get a balance of complex carbs, plant-based protein and LOADS of veggies!
And, since this is also a vegan hummus bowl, it’s all served on top of a dollop of hummus! Of course, change things up and make this spicy chickpea Buddha bowl your own.
But, I’ve linked the recipes for my Indian-inspired components throughout the post and within the recipe below, if you’d like to check them out!
What is a Buddha Bowl?
In the world of vegan Buddha bowls today, the dish is all about balancing different foods, nutrients, and colors. (Because different colors = different nutrients!) And, they incorporate many different foods and flavors, so you get to enjoy a few bites of multiple things but not too much of anything!
Generally, there are some common components that need to be included in a true Buddha bowl:
- Whole grains/starch: quinoa, rice, corn, sweet potato, butternut squash, beans
- Plant-based protein: tofu, beans, lentils
- Vegetables: all kinds, lots of ‘em, both raw and cooked!
But, working within those guidelines, you can create infinite different Buddha bowl recipes, with new ingredient combinations and flavors. My Indian-inspired spicy chickpea Buddha bowl is just ONE possibility! (But, a darn delicious one, if I do say so myself!)
Bringing Balance to this Spicy Chickpea Buddha Bowl
The spicy roasted chickpeas pack plant-based protein into this recipe, AND they provide slow-digesting starches instead of a whole grain. Plus, there’s another sneaky source of protein and starches at the bottom of this bowl…the hummus!
I like to dollop some spicy hummus in my chickpea Buddha bowl at the start to add a flavorful, creamy element, but you can also use any hummus you like. Then, between the tomato and onion salad and spiced sauteed spinach, this meal is veggie-packed, and full of fresh, zesty flavor!
With everything assembled, this chickpea Buddha bowl is like the ultimate meal. You get warm and cold components, loads of flavors and colors, a variety of textures, AND a healthy balance of different foods and nutrients!
Plus, the Indian-inspired flavors are a nice way to switch up my healthy eating routine. Of course, feel free to get creative with this chickpea Buddha bowl, or try out entirely new Buddha bowl and hummus bowl combinations!
Spicy Chickpea Buddha Bowl
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp spicy hummus, or hummus of choice
- ⅓ cup Indian spiced sauteed spinach
- ⅓ cup Indian tomato and onion salad
- ⅓ cup spicy roasted chickpeas
Instructions
- Spoon hummus into a serving bowl and spread to cover the bottom.
- Top with sauteed spinach, tomato and onion salad, and Indian spiced chickpeas.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Yields 1 spicy chickpea Buddha bowl.
