Main Dishes, Salads, Thai Cuisine
Spicy Vegan Rainbow Bowl With Thai Peanut Sauce
Introducing the Spicy Vegan Rainbow Bowl: a delicious and healthy meal that’s packed with flavor and nutrition. This bowl is loaded with colorful veggies, and perfectly cooked tofu, topped with a spicy-sweet Thai peanut sauce that will have your taste buds singing. Whether you’re looking for a plant-based meal, a high-protein option, or just a delicious and nutritious dish, this Spicy Thai Vegan Rainbow Bowl is sure to please. It’s gluten-free, meal-prep-friendly, and incredibly delicious. Give it a try and discover why it’s one of the best vegan meals out there!
What Is A Rainbow Bowl, Or Buddha Bowl?
A rainbow bowl, also known as a Buddha bowl, is a healthy and delicious meal made up of various components. Typically, a rainbow bowl includes whole grains, colorful fruits and vegetables, a source of protein, and a flavorful dressing or sauce. These bowls are often vegan and packed with nutrition, making them a popular choice for those following a plant-based diet. The key to a great rainbow bowl is a delicious sauce or dressing that brings all the flavors and textures together, making it a filling and satisfying meal.
Ingredients & Substitutions: What Is In A Thai Rainbow Bowl With Peanut Sauce
Ingredients play a crucial role in any recipe, and the vegan rainbow bowl is no exception. Here are the ingredients needed to prepare this colorful and scrumptious dish:
Ingredients:
- Grated carrot
- Diced cucumber
- Mango, cut into small strips
- Red cabbage, grated or thinly sliced
- Mint, cilantro, or Thai basil (or use all three!)
- Dried vermicelli noodles
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Crisp Tofu
- Extra firm tofu (pressed)
- Nutritional yeast
- Cornstarch
- Coconut aminos or soy sauce
- Hoisin sauce for coating tofu (optional)
Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce
- All-natural peanut butter
- Coconut aminos or soy sauce
- Lime juice
- Pure maple syrup or agave
- Sriracha
- Water to thin the sauce
Helpful Tools
While this recipe doesn’t require any fancy equipment, there are a few tools that can make your life easier in the kitchen. Here are some helpful tools for making this Vegan Rainbow Bowl:
- Air fryer (optional)
- Tofu press
- Shallow bowl for marinating tofu
- Small bowl for dry mixture
- Large mixing bowl for veggies and noodles
- Jar for mixing peanut sauce
- Chef’s knife and cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
How To Make This Spicy Vegan Rainbow Bowl
Now that you have all the ingredients prepared, it’s time to put everything together and create the vegan rainbow bowl. Follow the steps below to make this delicious dish:
Instructions:
Start by covering the vermicelli noodles in boiling water and leaving them for 3-5 minutes (check the package instructions as this can vary). Once done, drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water.
Cut the pressed tofu into strips and place them in a shallow bowl. Cover the tofu in soy sauce and flip the tofu so that the sauce is equally distributed. In a separate bowl, mix the cornstarch and nutritional yeast together. Coat each piece of tofu in the dry mixture.
Cook the tofu either in an air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes (flipping halfway through), or fry it in a pan with a little olive oil for 3-5 minutes per side. Cook until the tofu is crispy and golden brown on the outside. If you want to add extra flavor, coat the tofu strips in a little hoisin sauce (optional).
While the tofu is cooking, chop up the veggies.
Make the peanut sauce by mixing all the ingredients together in a jar. Be sure to taste test it to adjust the spice level to your preference. Add a little water at a time until you get the consistency just right.
Now, it’s time to assemble the vegan rainbow bowl. Start by adding the noodles, followed by the chopped veggies, and then the tofu strips. Sprinkle a dash of sesame seeds on top, and finish by drizzling the spicy Thai peanut sauce all over.
Serve and enjoy your delicious and colorful vegan rainbow bowl!
Tips & Tricks For This Vegan Rainbow Bowl
- Pressing tofu before cooking will help it absorb more flavor and give it a better texture.
- Make sure to coat the tofu in the dry mixture evenly to ensure a crispy exterior.
- If you don’t have coconut aminos, you can use soy sauce instead.
- Adjust the level of spiciness in the peanut sauce to your liking by adding more or less sriracha.
- Don’t overcook the vermicelli noodles or they will become mushy.
- For added flavor, you can marinate the veggies in a little bit of soy sauce or rice vinegar before assembling the bowl.
FAQ: Vegan Rainbow Bowl With Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce
Yes, you can use any protein you like such as tempeh, chickpeas, or seitan.
Yes, you can use any type of noodle you like such as rice noodles, soba noodles.
Use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
No, this recipe is best eaten fresh and leftovers may become soggy.
To add more spice to your vegan rainbow bowl, try adding chili flakes, hot sauce, jalapeños, cayenne pepper, Sriracha, or a spicy Thai peanut sauce. Use different types of peppers, but adjust the spice level to your liking.
Vegan Rainbow Bowl With Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 large grated carrot
- 1 large cucumber, diced
- 1 mango cut into small strips
- 1 cup red cabbage, grated or thinly sliced
- 1 handful mint, cilantro or thai basil (or use all 3!)
- 100 grams dried vermicelli noodles
- sesame seeds for garnish
Crisp Tofu
- 1 brick extra firm tofu (pressed)
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos or soy sauce
- 1-2 tbsp hoisin sauce for coating tofu (optional)
Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce
- ½ cup all-natural peanut butter
- 2 tbsp coconut aminos or soy sauce
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup or agave
- 2-6 tbsp sriracha (adjust to your own spice preference, I like a lot!)
- 3 tbsp water to thin the sauce (use more if needed)
Instructions
- Cover the vermicelli noodles in boiling water and leave for 3-5 minutes. (check the package instructions, this can vary). Then drain them and rinse with cold water.
- Cut the pressed tofu into strips and place in a shallow bowl. Cover them in the soy sauce and flip tofu so it's equally distributed. In a separate bowl, add the cornstarch and nutritional yeast and mix well. Now, coat each piece of tofu in the dry mixture.
- The tofu can be cooked in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 15 minutes flipping halfway, OR it can be fried in a pan with a little dash or olive oil for 3-5 minutes per side. Cook until the tofu is nice and crispy and golden brown on the outside. If you want, coat those tofu strips in a little hoisin sauce to enhance the flavour. This step is optional.
- While the tofu is cooking, chop up your veggies.
- Next, make the peanut sauce by mixing all ingredients together in a jar. Be sure to taste test it to see if you are happy with the level of spiciness. Remember you can always add but you can't take away! I know I can get a little heavy handed with the sriracha and my guests don't always want to sweat at the dinner table . Same thing goes for the water, add a little at a time until you get the consistency just right.
- Now you are ready to assemble the rainbow. bowl. Just add in veggies, noodles and tofu, sprinkle a dash of sesame seeds and top with that delicious Thai peanut sauce. Serve and ENJOY!
Notes
- Whole grains. Make this meal complete by adding whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice, rice noodles, couscous, bulgur, or millet.
- Lots of veggies. Get your daily vitamins and fiber through a variety of vegetables. Try peppers, cabbage, pickled onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, leafy greens, green onions, roasted root vegetables, and more!
- Don’t be scared to add fruit. Adding fruit like mangoes or strawberries can really elevate a rainbow bowl!
- Protein. Rainbow or buddha bowls are typically vegan. Look for a protein source like tofu, tempeh, or chickpeas.
- Dressing. A great homemade dressing makes all the difference! This recipe has a spicy Thai dressing, but check out this creamy lemon tahini dressing for something different.
- Healthy fats. Add avocado, hemp hearts, seeds, or nuts to get some omegas and healthy fats in the bowl.
Conclusion
The Spicy Vegan Rainbow Bowl is a delicious and nutritious meal that is easy to customize to your preferences. By including a variety of whole grains, colorful vegetables, fruit, protein, healthy fats, and a flavorful dressing, you can create a satisfying and well-balanced meal. The spicy Thai peanut sauce in this recipe adds a unique and delicious twist to the traditional rainbow bowl. This is a great vegan meal-prep option that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner. Give it a try and see for yourself why this recipe is a crowd-pleaser!
This Thai bowl is my husband’s fave as well as mine! It’s obviously ☺️extremely healthy as you can easily tell by the variety of colour! And you can definitely make extra for the next day! This will be a regular vegan dish at our house! Thanks spicyveganfood! You da best!💖
I’m SO glad you guys love this bowl!! Such a great idea to make extra for meal prep! Thank you so much 🙂
Loved this rainbow bowl!! Very easy to customize and the peanut sauce was delicious I made a double batch 😋
Hi Kristen, thank you so much for the feedback! I love the Thai peanut sauce as well, it goes well with many other items as well!