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] [1]
There are several explanations for why the name refers to the 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, [6] to the explanation of the overstuffed bowl resembling the belly of Budai, a 10th-century Chinese monk often confused with Buddha. [7]
