the round up: build a bowl!
how to build the perfect bowl + 8 favorite bowl recipes you can follow
A good bowl is one of those meals I never get tired of—easy to throw together, endlessly flexible, and perfect for prepping components ahead. Over time I’ve landed on a formula that works every time: a solid base (think rice, quinoa, or greens), some kind of protein, a little bit of healthy fat, lots of veggies (duh), and a good sauce, crunch, or garnish to top it all off. The more it’s an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink vibe, the better. It’s an amazing way to get plant diversity and satisfying flavors!
I use jasmine rice often for my bowl base—it’s inexpensive, easy to prepare, and the perfect blank slate since it absorbs all the seasoning and flavors from the other components in the bowl. Give it a little protein boost by cooking it in chicken bone broth or do a 50/50 split with some cauliflower rice to get more veggies and volume. You can easily swap this for quinoa, brown rice, or whatever your grain of choice is. Or, swap the grain entirely for a greens base (shredded kale is my top choice!).
And I think the key to a good bowl comes from your toppings—quick-pickled veggies are so good, cucumber salad, hummus, whipped feta, tahini sauce…I could go on forever. This is what brings everything together and where you can add in a little kick that complements the main components. Switch it up to keep things interesting!
You can always build your own bowl by making selections from the above, but if you don’t even want to think about it, this week’s edition of The Round Up is here to give you inspo you need. Keep scrolling for this week’s round up of 8 easy, satisfying, bowls to add to your dinner or lunch rotation!
P.S. I share exclusive recipes each month just for paid Substack subscribers—and if you love bowls or like to prep ingredients ahead of time, consider this your sign to join us! Some favorites include Green Goddess Edamame Bowls, Sesame Ginger Pork Bowls, Sweetgreen Miso Glazed Salmon Bowls, and Chicken Protein Bowls with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.
The Round Up: bowls!
Chicken Burrito Bowls — My first recipe remake, chipotle at home!
At-home Cava Bowls — So fun to make & easy to modify! love the mediterranean vibes.
Sticky Tofu Bowls with Roasted Veggies — The sticky sauce is everything!!!
Sweet and Spicy Pork Bowls — Everything comes together very quickly on the stovetop and dinner is on the table in 30 minutes!
Sheet Pan Shrimp Burrito Bowls with Cilantro Lime Rice — Uses a sheet pan to prep all of the cooked components to cut down time! The cilantro-lime rice is perfection.
Roasted Cauliflower and Lentil Bowls with Green Tahini Sauce — Plant powered and so delicious. The sauce takes it to the next level, don’t skip it!
Spicy Tofu Rice Bowls with Cucumber Salad — All of the components come together perfectly so each bite is saucy, spicy, acidic, warm, and overall delicious.
Buffalo Chicken Bowls with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli — In my opinion, perfect bowls. The buffalo chicken is savory and slightly creamy, the sweet potatoes are crispy and salty, and the broccoli is cheesy (but still dairy-free) and hearty.
Catch up on last week’s round up ⤵️
🚨Reminder: If you make a recipe, leave a rating and review on the site & you’ll be entered for a free month of the paid newsletter! All you have to do is leave your rating & review, then comment here letting me know you reviewed—3 winners each month!
Thank you for the reminder! I kept forgetting to leave reviews! I just left a review on the green veggie lemony orzo salad! So so good!