Buddha Bowls
“Buddha Bowls by Tanja Dusy is a feast for the eyes with mouth-watering photographs and vivid descriptions that entice the senses.”
The words Buddha bowl conjure up an image of a healthy, colorful, and nutritious meal. One-bowl meals originated in Asia and perhaps the idea was conceived by none other than Lord Buddha himself. Born into a royal family, Prince Siddhartha denounced his luxurious lifestyle preferring to live as a mendicant, begging for alms. Housewives used to throw scraps of food into his begging bowl (a practice that continues even today in India), and the enlightened Lord Buddha used to eat the assorted leftovers without any fuss. This idea of eating a meal, mostly vegetarian, out of a bowl is perhaps a throwback to a simpler time.
Whatever the origins of the idea, one-bowl eating has now become a lifestyle choice. In her latest book, renowned cookbook author, Tanja Dusy shows us that Buddha bowls can be nutritious, sustaining and beautiful. Buddha Bowls has inspiring ideas for every meal.
“All the dishes in this book share this basic concept. A grain—rice, for example—is combined with a series of versatile and complementary toppings, which can include raw and cooked, sour, spicy and mild ingredients, and thick or runny sauces and dips, among others.”
According to Dusy, Buddha bowls are healthy, balanced, versatile, and include a diversity of ingredients that are sure to satisfy different appetites and palates. The bowls do take a bit of effort to assemble but she assures her readers not to stress. “You should therefore not be put off when you see a list of four or five components . . . take a short cut, for instance, by substituting the chickpea curry with plain chickpeas straight from the can. . . .”
To help the home cook get started, Dusy has a handy list. Choose from a variety of healthy carbohydrates like noodles, brown rice, bulgur wheat, or barley and quinoa. Add leafy vegetables, fruits, and other colorful vegetables.
Then pile on the healthy proteins choosing from eggs, dairy, legumes, fish/seafood, nuts and seeds. Top with wholesome fats like avocados, coconut oil, oily fish, or olives to complete the bowl.
Buddha bowls can be eaten any time, and so of course Dusy has plenty of Breakfast Bowls to choose from. There are numerous options from Chia Pudding Bowl (a marvelous pink-tinted bowl), Tropical Coconut Bowl, or Purple Superfood Bowl, to name a few. Each of these can be topped with crispy Dukkah (an Eyptian spice and nut mixture), spicy granola, or nut crunch.
If you are looking for an easy bowl, then try the Spring Bowl or the Autumn Bowl. The step-by-step directions make them a snap to prepare. This book is chockful of international flavor and taste. Whether it’s the Indian Dal Bowl or the Gado Gado bowl, each dish is fragrant with spice, herbs, and flavor.
The Super Bowls section has a number of beautifully balanced bowls like the Bibimpap Bowl or Aphrodite’s Beauty Bowl (featuring parsley pesto, couscous, grilled halloumi cheese, olives, and peppers).
The book is a feast for the eyes with mouth-watering photographs and vivid descriptions that entice the senses. Who wouldn’t want to try the Colors of Asia bowl with its garnet shreds of red cabbage, the grated pieces of brilliant orange carrot, the thinly sliced yellow pepper, and the golden grilled sweet potatoes—all arranged on a bed of snowy-white basmati rice? This is a bowl of contentment, one even Lord Buddha would smile about.
Add beauty and health to the dinner table with these 50 meat-free recipes. Even the pickiest eaters will be awed at the array of colors, textures, tastes, and flavors. These bowls of harmony and balance are everything a body needs for its well-being.