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Veggie Bowl Recipes (Vegan & Oil-Free)

These simple 15-minute Veggie Bowl Recipes are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner in a hurry. Different variations can even be prepared ahead of time to eat throughout the week when you don’t have time to meal plan.

veggie bowl with chopsticks on side

I don’t really think of this dish as a recipe, because it’s so customizable. Definitely not a one-size-fits-all kind of meal.

We love veggie bowls because they’re…

  • Easy to make
  • Packed with nutrients
  • Super healthy
  • Completely satisfying
  • Customizable
  • Crunchy
  • Delicious
veggie bowl with rice and tahini sauce and chopsticks

Most of the time, I like to make my bowls super simple with things like brown rice, steamed broccoli, broccoli slaw, shredded carrots, chickpeas, crushed peanuts, and a simple tahini sauce. However, this vegan bowl recipe can have any number of variations according to what’s in the refrigerator at any given moment.

Veggie bowl options

  • Grains: rice, bulgur, quinoa, farro, buckwheat, millet, or other grain. This article Cooking Healthy Grains might be helpful. 
  • Beans: chickpeas, edamame, peas, lentils, black beans, or others
  • Greens: broccoli, kale, spinach, arugula, etc
  • Vegetables: cauliflower, sweet potatoes, asparagus, radishes, pea pods, carrots, bean sprouts, shredded cabbage, peppers, tomato, you get the picture.
  • Other: tofu, tempeh, soy curls, hummus, nuts, seeds, cilantro, avocado, whatever
  • Dressings: tahini sauce, peanut sauce, miso dressing, ginger dressing, tzatziki sauce, endless possibilities
diced broccoli and purple onion on cutting board

There are lots of different grains to choose from, but most of the time I make mine with brown rice or bulgur.

Although bulgur is not as well known as other grains like rice, barley, and quinoa, it is by far my favorite due to its versatility. I’ve written an entire article about why I love this particular grain so much. How to Cook Bulgur & Recipes.

cooked bulgur in pan on wooden table
This is bulgur that is delicious in many recipes.

Grains help control our weight by keeping us full for longer, so adding a little rice, bulgur, quinoa, or other grain to your veggie bowl is an excellent idea.

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

Veggie bowl sauces

I like all kinds of dressings for vegan rice bowls. The main thing I’m concerned about is how easy they are to make. These are some of my favorite simple sauces to use.

Tahini sauce in small glass jar being spooned out with white spoon

For these veggie bowls, I’ve included this super simple Tahini Sauce, but you really can choose any of the ones listed above that you prefer.

How to make tahini dressing for veggie bowl recipes

This lemony tahini dressing really is easy to make with only a few ingredients, bowl, and whisk.

Simply add all ingredients except the water to a medium-sized bowl and whisk together.

Slowly add in water and whisk until creamy and pourable. If the mixture seems stiff at first, continue to whisk and add small amounts of water at a time until smooth and creamy.

It keeps in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

A full list of ingredients, measurements, directions, and print button can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

colorful bowl full of vegetables and rice

Great uses for tahini sauce

  • falafel sauce
  • salad dressing
  • pasta sauce
  • veggie bowls
  • roasted vegetables
  • marinade
  • dip for veggies
  • burger & sandwich topping

Whichever combination of ingredients and sauce you decide to use in your healthy veggie bowl, rest assured your arteries and cells are saying, “Thank you!”

For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!

veggie bowl with rice and tahini sauce and chopsticks

Veggie Bowl Recipes

Yield: 2 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

These simple 15-minute Veggie Bowl Recipes are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner in a hurry. Different variations can even be prepared ahead of time to eat throughout the week when you don’t have time to meal plan.

Ingredients

Tahini Sauce

  • 1/3 cup tahini paste
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup or other sweetener, optional
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic , optional
  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, optional
  • sriracha sauce or other hot sauce, optional

Instructions

  1. Cook grain according to package instructions. I love to use leftover rice or bulgur that is already in my refrigerator. Another option is to buy the brown rice in boil-in bags that can be cooked on the stove top in about 10 minutes. 
  2. Steam broccoli in microwave or on stove top. I steam mine in the microwave by placing florets in microwave safe bowl, adding approximately 4 Tbsp of water, and cooking on high for 3 minutes.
  3. To assemble, place cooked rice or other grain in medium serving bowl with cooked broccoli or other vegetables of choice. Roasted cauliflower or sweet potatoes work well too. 
  4. Add cooked beans if using. Normally, I used chickpeas in my veggie bowl, but any beans you have onhand will be fine. Some favorites are edamame, peas, lentils, black beans, or others.
  5. Add shredded broccoli, carrots, other vegetables, crushed peanuts.
  6. Drizzle tahini sauce over top and serve!

Tahini Sauce

  1. Add all ingredients except the water to a medium-sized bowl and whisk together. 
  2. Slowly add in water and whisk until creamy and pourable. If the mixture seems stiff at first, continue to whisk and add small amounts of water at a time until smooth and creamy.
  3. Keeps in the refrigerator for up to 10 days.

Notes

Detailed instructions, in-process photos, and my personal helpful tips can be found in the article above.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 285Trans Fat: 0gSodium: 196mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 6.9gProtein: 9.3g

To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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About Terri Edwards

Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy.  I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…

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bilberryelf

Friday 15th of February 2019

This is just my kind of meal :) I have a tahini sauce I love really much as well - tahini, apple cider vinegar, tamari, water, ground coriander and ginger, garlic powder, and a pinch each of white pepper and cayenne pepper! So yummy. I love it over potatoes too :3 Thank you for sharing, I'm always up for more inspiration :) Have a lovely day <3

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