Back to School: Easy Weeknight Meals
It’s that time of year again! Whether your kids are headed back to the classroom for in-person learning or attending online classes, one thing is for sure: We could all use some time-savers when it comes to getting everyone fed a wholesome meal. That’s where the bowl comes in — it’s the perfect dish for building balanced meals that are both delicious and filling. Often called a “buddha bowl,” we love this dish for its convenience and portability. Plus, they’re super easy to customize to different tastes, making it appealing (and fun) for the whole family.
Building a bowl is a snap—just follow our Buddha Bowl Blueprint: 1 Cup Grain or Veggie Base + 1 Serving Protein + 2 Cups Extra Veg + 1 Serving Sauce + Toppers = One Amazing Buddha Bowl.
If you have leftover ingredients, you can easily have a delicious meal on the table in less than 10 minutes! Let’s see how it all comes together:
Layer 1: Grain or Grain-Like Base
Fill the bottom of your bowl with 1 cup of grains (like brown rice, farro, or soba noodles) or grain-like veggies (like cauliflower rice, zoodles, or spiralized carrots) — or a combo of both. You can start playing with texture here already. Try toothsome farro with crunchy raw carrot noodles, for example.
Layer 2: Protein
Make your bowl truly filling with a 4-ounce serving of lean meat (like roasted chicken, grilled shrimp, or raw sushi-grade salmon) or a ¾-cup serving of veggie protein (like steamed edamame, canned chickpeas, or pan-fried tofu). Leftover meatballs also make a great protein option — just bake them at 400 degrees in the oven until cooked through instead of simmering.
Layer 3: More Veggies
Pile on the extra goodness with 2 cups of veggies. Try roasted mushrooms, steamed broccoli, grilled asparagus, pickled green beans, shredded kale, thinly sliced cucumber, marinated artichokes, kimchi...the sky’s the limit! Mix-and-match to play with flavor and texture.
Layer 4: Sauces
Sauces not only ensure that every bite is a flavorful one, they also add moisture to the dish, improving overall mouthfeel, so top your bowl with some sauce or even hot broth to bring it all together. This is a great opportunity to experiment with different cuisines: Create a burrito bowl with salsa, visit the Mediterranean with some savory yogurt dip, or channel an Asian hot pot with a ladle-full of hot bone broth
Layer 5: More Toppers
Sprinkle on some toppers to make your buddha bowl extra special. Make it creamy with some avocado, add some crunch with some toasted sesame seeds, or add a little extra zip with some fresh herbs, lemon juice, or red pepper flakes. Don’t be afraid to play!
Bowls lend themselves to just about any type of cuisine. Which would you want to explore in your next one? Take our poll!