A Buddha bowl is a vegetarian meal, served on a single bowl or high-rimmed plate, which consists of small portions of several foods, served cold. [1] [2] These may include whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice, plant proteins such as chickpeas or tofu, and vegetables. [3] [4] The portions are not mixed on the plate or in the bowl, but arranged in an "artful" way. The concept appeared in 2013 (Juice for Life (now Fresh),[ clarification needed] in Toronto, Ontario, was offering this on their menu prior to 2013, and a recipe for a Buddha Bowl is in their cookbook dated to 2000, featuring recipes from the 1990s) and has grown popular since early 2017. [5] Buddha bowls have been compared to Nourish Bowls (a non-vegetarian version) and to Poké Bowls (a Hawaiian raw fish dish). [6] [1]
There are several explanations for why the name refers to Buddha. It may originate from presenting a balanced meal, where balance is a key Buddhist concept, [3] from the story of Buddha carrying his food bowl to fill it with whatever bits of food villagers would offer him, [7] to the explanation of the overstuffed bowl resembling the belly of Budai, a 10th-century Chinese monk often confused with Buddha. [8]
A Buddha bowl is a vegetarian meal, served on a single bowl or high-rimmed plate, which consists of small portions of several foods, served cold. [1] [2] These may include whole grains such as quinoa or brown rice, plant proteins such as chickpeas or tofu, and vegetables. [3] [4] The portions are not mixed on the plate or in the bowl, but arranged in an "artful" way. The concept appeared in 2013 (Juice for Life (now Fresh),[ clarification needed] in Toronto, Ontario, was offering this on their menu prior to 2013, and a recipe for a Buddha Bowl is in their cookbook dated to 2000, featuring recipes from the 1990s) and has grown popular since early 2017. [5] Buddha bowls have been compared to Nourish Bowls (a non-vegetarian version) and to Poké Bowls (a Hawaiian raw fish dish). [6] [1]
There are several explanations for why the name refers to Buddha. It may originate from presenting a balanced meal, where balance is a key Buddhist concept, [3] from the story of Buddha carrying his food bowl to fill it with whatever bits of food villagers would offer him, [7] to the explanation of the overstuffed bowl resembling the belly of Budai, a 10th-century Chinese monk often confused with Buddha. [8]