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For a good-for-you lunch that really sticks with you, this brown rice Buddha bowl hits the mark. It’s topped with baked tofu and kale chips. Then it’s finished with a drizzling of tahini dressing. It’s a filling, delicious, and healthy lunch or dinner. Vegan & gluten-free.
We have a bird feeder just outside our dining room window. One of the kitchen table chairs acts as a kitty perch. The cats watch Feline TV and make catcalls to the birds outside who are having dinner.
The birds don’t seem to notice or care. But it gives the cats a chance to be as menacing as their adorable, furry selves can manage.
Knowing how hard it can be to wait for your favorite shows to come back on television, I try to keep the birdseed in full supply, so that the cats don’t miss their program.
This means that with some regularity, I go to the grocery store to get a huge bag of birdseed.
Whenever I leave the store, hefting a 20 pound bag, I always laugh to myself, thinking about if someone were to catch a picture of me at that moment.
“There goes a vegan with an enormous bag of birdseed leaving the grocery store…”
I think of them sizing me up and saying, “Yep. That’s about what I thought.”
When it comes to so-called “vegan food,” people have a lot of opinions.
In addition to seeds, they imagine it’s all tofu, rice or barley, carrots, tahini, sprouts, avocado, and kale chips…
Oh, did I tell you that I have a recipe for you?
That’s right. As much as I always talk about how vegan food is just food (and it is), the truth is, I like all of those crunchy, granola foods for which vegans are mocked.
I like green smoothies, green juices, hemp seeds, coconut water. And yes, I also like salt & pepper potato chips and vegan junk food too.
Vegan Buddha bowl with baked tofu
Welcome to a who’s who of much maligned plant foods…
When a vegan throws a dinner party, this is likely what people fear they will be serving.
This bowl was inspired by the basmati brown rice bowl I would often get at Flore, a vegan restaurant in Silver Lake, California. (They have since closed.)
For this Buddha bowl, I use my go-to baked tofu recipe.
A big batch of baked tofu is good for a bowl like this one. And it’s also so handy to have as a straight-out-of-the-refrigerator snack, slipped into sandwiches or salads, or added to stir-fries for a quick weeknight meal.
For the grain, I opt for barley or brown rice. But you could go with quinoa, millet, farro, or whatever tickles your fancy.
It’s then topped with all of the carrots, avocado, sprouts, and kale chips your heart desires.
Finish it with an easy tahini dressing. It’s made with tahini, lemon juice, water, and a pinch of salt. (Here’s my favorite tahini.)
Enjoy the filling warmth of the tofu and brown rice. Revel in the crisp texture of the kale chips against the creamy, nutty tahini. Sink your teeth into the fatty goodness of avocado until every drop is gone.
After all, sometimes an Iowan has to have corn-on-the-cob. Sometimes a cat has to meow. And sometimes a vegan has to have a dinner of tofu & kale chips.
Baked tofu & kale chip Buddha bowls with tahini dressing
Ingredients
For easy baked tofu
- 1 Tablespoon tamari
- 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 20 ounces vacuum-packed super firm tofu sliced into 10 equal slabs*
- 3 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
For kale chips
- 1 bunch curly kale
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
For tahini dressing
- 2 Tablespoons tahini
- 2 to 3 Tablespoons water
- 1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
- Pinch salt
For bowls
- 2 cups cooked brown rice or barley (Use rice for a gluten free option)
- 1 large carrot grated
- 1 avocado sliced
- Optional toppings: Sprouts, sunflower seeds & tamari
Instructions
To make easy baked tofu
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large lasagna-style glass casserole dish, combine the extra virgin olive oil and tamari. Lay the slabs of tofu evenly across the dish, taking time to coat each side with tamari and olive oil.
- Put into oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, flip the tofu slabs, and cover evenly in lemon juice. Bake for an additional 20 minutes and remove from oven.
To make kale chips
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse kale and remove the hard center ribs. Tear the kale leaves into chips of medium, mostly equal-sized pieces. Keep in mind that the kale will shrink while it cooks, and so aim for pieces that are about two inches big if possible. Put the kale chips in a salad spinner to remove as much water as possible. The leaves should be as dry as possible, so that they will get crisp in the oven instead of soggy.
- Put the kale chips in a large mixing bowl with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. Using your hands, rub the oil, lemon juice, and salt into the kale, taking care to evenly coat them.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Lay the kale chips evenly across the sheets, taking care that they don’t overlap. (You don’t want them to steam instead of bake.)
- Bake the chips for 15 minutes and remove from oven. Check for doneness. You want them to be crisp, not burnt.
- If they are not quite done, flip the chips, and return them to the oven, putting the baking sheets on opposite racks for even roasting. Return them to the oven to bake for another five minutes or less, keeping a careful eye on them to make sure they don’t burn. When the chips are crisp, remove them from the oven and serve.
To make tahini dressing
- In a small bowl, combine tahini, 2 Tablespoons water, one teaspoon of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt with a fork until completely combined and creamy. If it's too thick, slowly add the additional Tablespoon of water until you've reached a creamy but pourable consistency. Taste and add additional teaspoon of lemon juice, if preferred.
To make bowls
- In serving bowls, include a scoop of brown rice or barley, 2 slices of tofu, a handful of kale chips, a scoop of grated carrot, and a few slices of avocado. Top with tahini dressing and any of the optional toppings you prefer.
Bobbie {the vegan crew} says
“In addition to seeds, they imagine it’s all tofu, rice or barley, carrots, tahini, sprouts, avocado, and kale chips…” Of course those aren’t even close to being ALL I eat or enjoy, but they are still some of my favorite foods!
This entire bowl looks absolutely delicious, and I’ll definitely have to try the simple tahini dressing. We are always on the lookout for new ways to dress up our greens.
Cadry says
I agree, those are some of my favorite foods too! Especially when it comes to avocado, any meal is made better by its inclusion!
Let me know if you try the tahini dressing! It’s kind of nice to have a simple sauce that doesn’t require dirtying the blender.
veganinbrighton says
This looks like one of my favourite bowls but I’d never considered doing kale chips instead of steamed kale – such a great idea!
Cadry says
It’s fun having an added crunch of texture!
Sarah De la Cruz says
Love it! There are times that I have a big bowl of barley with tofu and kale too and Irving always teases me for being so granola! I know he’s secretly jealous that he didn’t ask me to make enough for him!
Cadry says
How cute! You’ll have to make extra for Irving next time around, so that he doesn’t feel left out. There’s enough tofu and barley for everybody! 🙂
Kylie - FotV says
I love Flore – they have some pretty amazing cupcakes and a great brunch!!
Cadry says
Excellent! We regularly went on Sundays for brunch or lunch when we lived in LA. It was also a good place to go after a hike in Griffith Park.
Annie says
I was wondering where the birdseed story was going! Nice!
Cadry says
Thanks, Annie!
ameyfm says
yum! I have to say, you are one step ahead of me because I just cannot get behind green smoothies. But, I did have an entire batch of collards (steamed) and an entire head of cauliflower (roasted) with noochy queso and tofu ricotta for lunch… so, there’s that! And, this meal looks totally glorious to me. I would love it. And I love that it’s got so many flavors and textures going on, and is super healthy. 🙂 perfect!
Cadry says
First the breakfast burritos and now the green smoothies… Are you sure you’re a California vegan? Well, I suppose if you’re still eating nutritional yeast flakes and tofu ricotta, we can let you keep your membership! 😉
Kelly @ Vegan Iowan says
This looks great! I like the idea of kale chips instead of steamed or sauteed.
Cadry says
I often do garlicky sautéed kale or collards too, but that extra bit of crunchy texture takes the meal up a notch! You’ll have to try it sometime!
Johanna GGG says
That bowl looks like exactly that sort of thing I would love for dinner – I love all the crunchy granola vegan foods too – leaves more space for the chocolate cake 🙂
Cadry says
I like the way you think, Johanna! 🙂
lymieeatingcoconut says
this sounds like a perfect combo of things to make a bowl with.
Cadry says
Thanks!
Joey says
Yep, it’s true – I know it’s all stereotypical vegan stuff, but I go made for kale and tofu. I find myself craving dark green veggies and beans. If that’s wrong, I don’t want to be right. That bowl looks divine!
Cadry says
I don’t want to be right either! Pass the kale, please!
VeganLisa says
I’m with you…crunchy granola all the way!
Cadry says
We might as well own it, right? 🙂
Mel says
That looks like such a pretty bowl and I love the sound of the kale chips in it. And any meal with baked tofu get a big tick from me!
Cadry says
Yeah, I generally use kale chips as a snack, but there’s something so satisfying about having that crunchy texture with the other softer foods in the bowl.
Ashley F. says
Bowls are one of my all-time favorite meals! This looks so yummy!
Also, off topic, but I had to laugh at your ‘crunchy’ comment. I was once at an art festival in Minneapolis and there were a lot of meat vendors, and I said, “for so many crunchy people you’d think there be more vegan options” and the lady next to me started laughing so hard I thought she was going to pass out 🙂
Cadry says
How funny! I love it when people are eavesdropping and can’t help but react like that.
luminousvegans says
I love a good hearty and healthy bowl like this! Of course, it must be followed by vegan cookies. 🙂 I like to have a semi-balance between healthy and junky.
Cadry says
They say it’s important to have a balanced diet. I can only assume that they mean a balance of healthy and junky. 😉
Susmitha - Veganosaurus says
HAHAHA that birdseed story was hilarious. 😀
The ‘cliché vegan’ bowl looks super duper delicious to me!
Cadry says
I love that name – The Cliche Vegan Bowl. Now I wish I would have called it that! 🙂
Andrea says
Bird seed is probably OK, but just don’t get caught with a big bag of rabbit food!
I love food in bowls, and this dinner is exactly what I like to eat.
Cadry says
Don’t get caught with lettuce & carrots? It’s probably a lost cause! 🙂
gigiveganville says
Is feline TV the same as HBO? This is my favorite food ever, but to avoid the cliche you will never catch me wearing Birks, Crocs or the for the most part open toed shoes.
Cadry says
I support people not wearing Crocs for whatever reason they choose. 😉
Maggie Muggins says
I totally love a big bowl of hippy food from time to time, especially when it’s smothered in tahini sauce! I STILL have not made kale chips, I almost feel like a bad vegan for never trying such a popular recipe. One of these days…although I’m still kind of iffy about them for some weird reason.
Cadry says
I had heard there was one vegan out there who had never made kale chips, but I never dreamed I’d have the opportunity to meet her! 😉 But seriously, you should try them at least once. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} says
This looks great Cadry! I love tahini dressing and kale chips are one of my fave ways to eat kale. I will definitely have to try this bowl.
Cadry says
Excellent! I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think!
Jenn Murphy says
This is the kind of thing I am trying to eat more of and I love how simple this recipe is. I will definitely be trying it out. Whenever I go to Flore, I can’t bring myself to get anything besides the Southwestern Seitan Quesadilla.
Cadry says
Oh, I’ve never tried the Southwestern Seitan Quesadilla! I know how hard it can be to veer from a favorite. Their portobello mushroom tacos are also really terrific. Let me know if you give this a go! 🙂
veganmiam.com says
Tahini dressing – I’m drooling! I love loads of cilantro in my tahini dressing to give it a bit of herb kick! Looks like a fantastic hearty bowl of goodness and love!
Cadry says
Good idea! Cilantro would be great in this!
Hannah says
It’s just perfection, you know? Sometimes the simple things are perfection.
Cadry says
It’s so true! Sometimes just the combination of several favorites in varying textures makes for a meal that’s even better than the sum of its parts.
kendy says
Nerds wearing a life jacket! 😛 Some BTF humor!
That looks simple but delicious! Sometimes all one needs is tofu and salad!
Cadry says
Isn’t that a great movie? I was half considering just getting an orange life jacket when we were looking for costume pieces, because it was surprisingly difficult to find an orange puffy vest without down/feathers. Luckily, I was able to find this one online after some searching.
It’s true! Sometimes the simplicity of baked tofu, greens, and grains just feels right!
Autumn says
Yum yum yum yum! I have to admit, when I first went vegan I didn’t like the crunchier vegan dishes but now I absolutely love them. I think it took some time for me to appreciate simpler dishes after coming from a greasy SAD. It never occurred to me to put kale chips in a bowl. That’s kind of genius!
This is exactly what I was craving today and I just happen to have all the ingredients on hand. Hooray!
Cadry says
Good point! I’m sure when I went vegan, I wouldn’t have initially been excited about a meal of tofu and kale chips either. Now it’s the kind of food that I crave! I tend to use sautéed kale too in bowls, but the chips add a fun extra texture. If you make it, I hope you enjoy it!
Mandee says
I agree, I like all the foods that people assume we eat, and why not, they are delicious after all! This looks like a lovely, tasty, and filling meal!
Cadry says
Thanks, Mandee! 🙂
Randi (laughfrodisiac) says
I love it! I pretend to be otherwise sometimes, but I am definitely partial to the crunchy granola style of vegan food! 🙂 This bowl looks like perfection. I definitely want to make it, and to try Flore!
Cadry says
Thanks, Randi! It sounds like this bowl would be right up your alley. If you make it, I hope you enjoy it!
acookinthemaking says
I think the bowl looks delicious! I am proud of my love for the “hippie” vegan foods 🙂
Cadry says
Thanks! There’s something to be said about simple foods prepared in a way that lets their natural flavors stand out.
Pixie says
This meal looks like heaven to me ^-^ Some days you want fancy, some days you want pizza (home-made, of course!) and others, all you want is nice big bowl of healthy, hearty comfort. I could really do with a bowl of that right now!
Cadry says
You’re so right! There are some days when nothing sounds better than a big bowl of rice, tofu, and greens.
Lindsay says
Yum. My favourite foods are “hippie foods” too then. This looks AWESOME and I have pinned it. Thanks for the recipeS — I’ve never baked tofu before!
Cadry says
Oh, you’re in for a treat then! Baked tofu has such a great, toothsome texture. I hope you’ll really like it!