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]
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