Description
Rainbow Rice Buddha Bowl Recipe – Discover this colorful, healthy, and easy-to-make vegetarian dinner. Packed with fresh veggies and flavorful rice, it’s a meal prep favorite!
Ingredients
Scale
- Vibrant Rice Base:
- 1 cup brown rice, rinsed
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- Colorful Veggies & Protein:
- 1 cup shelled edamame, thawed
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup red cabbage, finely shredded
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced
- Tangy Dressing:
- 1/4 cup tahini
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or Tamari for GF)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup (or agave)
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2–4 tablespoons water (to thin)
- Finishing Touches:
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (black and white mix)
Instructions
- Get That Rice Ready: First things first, let’s get that brown rice cooking for your Rainbow Rice Buddha Bowl Recipe. Rinse your rice really well under cold water until it runs clear; this helps with the texture, honestly. Combine the rinsed rice with vegetable broth in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for about 40-45 minutes. I always set a timer, because I’ve scorched rice before, oops! Once done, turn off the heat and let it sit, covered, for another 10 minutes. This steams it perfectly, making it fluffy.
- Whisk Up That Tangy Dressing: While the rice is doing its thing, let’s whip up that glorious tahini dressing for your Rainbow Rice Buddha Bowl Recipe. In a small bowl, combine tahini, fresh lemon juice, soy sauce, maple syrup, and grated ginger. Whisk it all together until it’s smooth and creamy. It might look thick at first, almost seizing up, but don’t panic! Gradually add water, one tablespoon at a time, whisking continuously until you reach a beautiful, pourable consistency. You want it thick enough to coat a spoon, but thin enough to drizzle. Taste it, adjust seasonings if you like – make it yours!
- Prep Your Colorful Veggies: Now for the fun part: preparing all those vibrant veggies! If your edamame is frozen, just pop it in a bowl and pour some warm water over it to thaw quickly, then drain. If you haven’t already, finely shred your red cabbage and carrots. Dice your cucumber into nice, bite-sized pieces. I sometimes get a little carried away with the chopping, but for a buddha bowl, consistency helps everything fit together beautifully. This step always makes my kitchen counter look like a rainbow exploded, and honestly, I love it! The fresh smells are just incredible.
- Fluff the Rice and Assemble Your Base: Once your rice has rested, take off the lid and fluff it gently with a fork. You’ll see those individual grains, perfectly cooked! Now, grab your favorite bowls – the bigger, the better for this Rainbow Rice Buddha Bowl Recipe. Spoon a generous portion of the fluffy brown rice into the bottom of each bowl. This is your canvas, hon! I always try to make a nice, even layer, almost like a little bed for all the colorful goodness that’s about to come. It smells so earthy and warm right now.
- Arrange Your Rainbow: Here’s where you get to be an artist! Arrange your prepped veggies and edamame over the rice in separate sections. Think about creating a beautiful rainbow effect – a section of bright green edamame, next to the vibrant orange carrots, then the deep purple cabbage, and finally the refreshing cucumber. I love seeing all the colors pop! Don’t be afraid to make it look pretty; we eat with our eyes first, right? Sometimes, I get a little messy, but it’s all part of the charm of a homemade meal. Add your sliced avocado here too.
- Drizzle and Garnish: Now for the grand finale! Generously drizzle that creamy tahini dressing all over your beautifully arranged Rainbow Rice Buddha Bowl Recipe. Don’t be shy, it’s the glue that brings all those flavors together. Finally, sprinkle some sesame seeds – I love a mix of black and white for extra visual interest and a little crunch. Take a moment to admire your creation. Honestly, the smell of the dressing mingling with the fresh veggies is just divine. Give it a good mix before you dig in, or enjoy it section by section – your bowl, your rules!