Vegan Buddha Bowl
Lately, I’ve been such a hummus junky. I’m constantly dipping raw vegetables, especially carrots and cucumbers, as a snack or small meal. I’ve even found that if I’m craving something sweet, hummus and carrots does the trick. I know hummus is hardly a sweet treat, but for some reason, it’s been working for me as a hunger cure-all. Do you have any cure-all vegan snacks in your life?
Speaking of satisfying a hunger, this vegan Buddha Bowl was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time. I was feeling the need for a big, warm bowl of nourishment, and this dish definitely fit the bill. And the best part of it all is the sauce. I had to create an “a little goes a long way” sauce, because I can’t stand over-sauced soggy quinoa, and quinoa is fairly easy to turn to a soggy mush with a liquid-y sauce. The tangy bite of this Buddha bowl sauce is exactly what I was wanting.
While Buddha bowls are always meat-free, they often use tofu or simply stick to the grains and veggies. I opted to add a little Field Roast sausage to the mix because I love the flavor and I had half a package left in the freezer. In my recipe (below), I noted the sausage is completely optional; I know many of you don’t use faux meat products and the dish is delicious with or without. Either way, I hope you’ll give this recipe a try! It’s the perfect meal for your fresh, colorful summer produce, and could even double as a clean-out-the-refrigerator meal with a few swaps to meet your leftover produce needs.
Vegan Buddha Bowl
Cook time:
Total time:
Yield: About 5 cups, Serves 3.
1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups cooked pinto beans
2 Field Roast apple sage sausages, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 bunch kale, stems trimmed, chopped
1 large red pepper, cut into strips
1 medium yellow onion, sliced
1 large carrot, or a handful of baby carrots, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup coldl water
1/4 soy sauce
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
While your quinoa is cooking, preheat olive oil in a large pan. Add onions, and as they begin to caramelize, follow with red pepper strips and carrots. Saute until just tender. Add chopped kale and fold in. Cover pan and remove from heat, leaving it covered for about 4 minutes or the steam has left the kale wilted and tender.
If you're using the vegan sausage, arrange slices in a lightly oiled cast iron grill pan and grill over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side, until each side is browned and slightly crispy around the edges.
To make the sauce, whisk together cold water, soy sauce, vinegar, nutritional yeast, garlic, black pepper, sea salt, and cornstarch in a small saucepan. Heat sauce over medium heat, whisking constantly, until sauce thickens. The sauce will thicken quickly.
To assemble your bowls, add quinoa, beans, vegetables, and vegan sausage coins (if using), and then drizzle each bowl with 1/3 of the sauce.
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I Eat Trees is a blog featuring my adventures in all things vegan. My favorite recipes, snack food finds, and restaurant trials are all on the menu so enjoy!
I love Buddha bowl! The sausage gives it a really nice twist, I think!
I love the added kick of flavor!
This will be the perfect way to use up that last Field Roast Sausage of mine!
Yay! Can’t let those go to waste; they’re not cheap!
this looks delicious: i will have to try. I’ll make my own vegan sausage with the recipe from Vegan Brunch. http://www.theppk.com/books/vegan-brunch/ It’s really simple and tasty, for those not wanting to use faux meat products. I make the Chorizo most often.
Thanks! I love Vegan Brunch. You should try the jalapeno sausage from Hearty Vegan (coming out next month), too. It’s amazing!
Wow, Keri, that looks amazing. I love the quinoa and sausage — nice touch. I haven’t tried a Field Roast product yet. Crazy, right?
Thank you! I really love this dish! You HAVE to try Field Roast. The apple sage has to be my favorite vegan product in the whole world!!
This looks amazing!!
I’ve never had a budda bowl, but I’m definitely going to try this recipe out. I probably won’t add any Field Roast though, but I’m sure it’ll still be incredible! :9
Thank you! Yes, it’s definitely still delicious without. I love the tangy sauce!
This looks SO good! When I read your question about a craving cure-all food, my first thought was quinoa. Then I was very happy to read that quinoa was in this recipe. Gonna make this for sure
Thank you!
Oh, good! I agree quinoa makes for such a satisfying meal!
Never mind that I already had dinner…I need to eat this RIGHT NOW. I’m a huge fan of this sort of thing.
Yum! I love this twist on a buddha bowl. The sausage must be vegan, yes? I live in Alaska and I don’t know that I have ever seen vegan sausage (our processed vegan products are fairly limited)! Sounds like a nice addition though, especially for a little comfort food feeling!