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. Buddha bowls have been compared to nourish bowls (a non-vegetarian version) and to poké bowls (a Hawaiian raw fish dish).[5]
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, from the story of Buddha carrying his food bowl to fill it with whatever bits of food villagers would offer him,[6] to the explanation of the overstuffed bowl resembling the belly of Budai, a 10th-century Chinese monk often confused with Buddha.[7]