A delicious Dragon Bowl recipe with fresh vegetables, tofu, and brown rice drizzled with the most delicious dragon sauce. These simple and healthy Buddha bowls are vegan, gluten-free, and perfect for meal prep.
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So what exactly are dragon bowls?
A dragon bowl, like a Buddha Bowl, consists of grains, vegetables (raw or cooked), tofu or other protein, and other delicious toppings. But the big difference between a Dragon Bowl and any other Buddha bowl is the delicious sauce.
A dragon bowl is drizzled with a tahini-based Dragon Sauce which is creamy and packed with Asian flavors. This tasty sauce takes this healthy bowl recipe to the next level!
Dragon bowls were created and made popular by a Chinese restaurant called Aux Vivres based in Montreal. And this healthy bowl recipe is inspired by their famous Dragon Bowl menu item.
A dragon bowl is a delicious and well-balanced vegan meal that is perfect for dinner or lunch. It is customizable and is a great meal-prep option!
Looking for more easy and vegan recipes? Check out our list of THE BEST LAZY VEGAN RECIPES!
A Healthy 30-Minute Meal Option
Dragon Bowls are extremely healthy and are filled with nutritious ingredients to nourish your body. These bowls make for a well-balanced meal that consists of healthy grains, high-quality protein, lots of fresh produce, and healthy fats.
A dragon bowl is a great way to eat lots of veggies which provide you with a range of vitamins and minerals. The protein and healthy fats will also keep you feeling sustained for a long period of time.
Another healthy meal to try out is my Avocado Pesto Pasta!
Why you should make this recipe:
- A well-balanced & satisfying meal! This vegan and gluten-free meal is full of nutrients and healthy ingredients that will fuel your body and keep you feeling full.
- Perfect for meal prep! The separate ingredients for this bowl recipe can all be prepared ahead of time and then assembled fresh for each meal.
- Flavorful sauce and fresh ingredients! The combination of fresh veggies and dragon sauce makes this meal full of delicious flavor and texture.
- This a quick and easy recipe! A Dragon Bowl is a perfect midweek meal! It takes just 30 minutes to make and uses simple ingredients and cooking methods.
What is in a Dragon Bowl?
Dragon bowls consist of a base of grains that are then topped with a variety of vegetables. This is then served with a protein source of choice, but traditionally this would be cubed and fried tofu.
Ingredients and Notes
- Tofu. This can be replaced with chicken, beef, or fish as a non-vegan alternative.
- Brown rice. You could also use quinoa as another healthy grain option. Couscous and lentils are other great grain options.
- Red cabbage. If you do not have red cabbage, you could also use green cabbage!
- Carrots. I like to choose sweet, crunchy carrots for this recipe as they will be enjoyed fresh and not cooked.
- Red bell pepper. Or yellow or green if you prefer!
- Bean sprouts. A classic Asian cuisine ingredient that is delicious as part of this bowl recipe.
- Avocado. This provides the meal with lots of healthy fats and deliciousness.
- Cashew nuts. Chopped and roasted cashews are best for this recipe as they contain the most flavor. But you can also use raw nuts. The cashews can be substituted with peanuts if preferred.
- Dragon Sauce. Easy to make and absolutely delicious. You can find the recipe here!
More Ingredient Options and Alternatives
- Roasted zucchini
- Baby spinach
- Beets
- Sautéed kale
- Curried cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Roasted squash
- Sesame seeds
- Microgreens
How to Make a Dragon Bowl
1. Cook the tofu. Cut the tofu into cubes. Place them in a pan with sesame seed oil on medium heat. Let each cube cook for about 4 - 6 minutes, or until golden brown on each side. Remove from heat.
RECIPE TIP: Use firm tofu for this recipe to achieve crispy cubes of tofu. Also, don’t rush the cooking process of the tofu, give it enough time to brown nicely on each side when you fry the tofu cubes.
2. Make the dragon sauce. Whisk all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.
RECIPE TIP: You can double the sauce recipe and store the extra sauce in the fridge for up to one week. The dragon sauce is delicious with all sorts of salads and stir-fries.
3. Assemble the bowl. Start assembling the bowl by spooning the brown rice into the bottom of your serving bowl. Then arrange the cabbage, carrots, red bell pepper, sprouts, avocado, and tofu in little piles on top. Sprinkle over the nuts and drizzle over the dragon sauce, and enjoy!
RECIPE TIP: You can swap out any of the veggies with any others that you may prefer. Baby spinach, broccoli, or beetroot would be delicious substitutions in this bowl!
Dragon Bowl
A delicious Dragon Bowl recipe with fresh vegetables, tofu, and brown rice drizzled with the most delicious sauce. These simple and healthy Buddha bowls are vegan, gluten-free, and perfect for meal prep.
Ingredients
Dragon Bowl
- 1 block firm tofu (12 oz./350g), cubed
- 1 tablespoon sesame seed oil
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 cup red cabbage, shredded
- 1 carrot, ribboned or sliced
- ½ cup bean sprouts
- 1 avocado, sliced
- ¼ cup roasted cashews (or peanuts), chopped
Dragon Sauce
- 3 tablespoon sesame seed oil
- 2 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 - 2 teaspoon minced ginger
- 3tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 3 tablespoon tahini
- 3 tablespoon water
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
Instructions
- Cook the tofu. Cut the tofu into cubes. Place them in a pan with sesame seed oil on medium heat. Let each cube cook for about 4 - 6 minutes, or until golden brown on each side. Remove from heat.
- Make the dragon sauce. Whisk all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl until well combined.
- Assemble the bowl. Start assembling the bowl by spooning the brown rice into the bottom of your serving bowl. Then arrange the cabbage, carrots, red bell pepper, sprouts, avocado, and tofu in little piles on top. Sprinkle over the nuts and drizzle over the dragon sauce, and enjoy!
Notes
RECIPE TIP: Use firm tofu for this recipe to achieve crispy cubes of tofu. Also, don’t rush the cooking process of the tofu, give it enough time to brown nicely on each side when you fry the tofu cubes.
RECIPE TIP: You can double the sauce recipe and store the extra sauce in the fridge for up to one week. The dragon sauce is delicious with all sorts of salads and stir-frys.
More healthy meal ideas:
- Vegan Chickpea and Pumpkin Curry
- Roasted Carrot & Butternut Soup
- Vegan Beet Burger
- Gut-Healing Vegetable Soup
I hope you love this healthy Dragon Bowl recipe as much as I do! And if you want to see more of my delicious food adventures, follow me on Instagram or Facebook.
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