One of the most interesting things about my plant-based diet is finding the ability to just throw a meal together. When I was a meat eater, all my meals basically centered around whatever protein I ate— chicken, beef, lamb, etc. Now, I can grab a bunch of things and leftovers that I may have in the refrigerator and put together a meal that is just yummy and comforting. This buddha bowl is a variation of one I saw online and it is really good.

There are many aspects of this bowl that I love separately, but together, they are a burst of flavors. The one thing in this bowl that I never had before was the pink pearl couscous, which gets the flavor from shredded beets. It is ridiculously amazing. The bowl also includes falafels. And I am going to be honest— these are from a box mix. I tried them a few years ago and I compare every falafel to this brand. So good! Some sauteed shiitake mushrooms complete this dish. The result is a bowl with earthy and warm flavor that will definitely hit the spot. A green goddess type dressing goes beautiful with this. For the recipe:

Instructions/Ingredients (Makes 2 servings):

For the massaged kale: In a bowl, combined 3 cups of kale with 2-3 tbsp of olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon and a dash of salt. Then with your clean hands, literally, massaged the kale making sure to coat the leaves. What this method does is similar to wilting but without mushing the leave. Kale is perfect for this because it is more sturdy. As you massage the kale, the leaves will get tender and they will reduce in volume.

For the beets couscous: Cook couscous per package instructions. Take 1 cup of the cooked couscous and mix it with 1/2 cup raw shredded red beets and 1 tsp of lemon juice. Mix together until the couscous turn pink. Add salt and pepper to taste.

For the sauteed mushrooms: On a sauteeing pan, combine 1 cups of mushrooms, 2 tbsp olive oil and a dash of Greek seasons. You can you use any seasoning you want, but I find Greek seasoning goes really well with mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms until they are tender, around 8-10 mins.

Arrange portions of all the ingredients in a bowl, and enjoy!

You may find me joining these beautiful blog linkups: Heart & Soul, Meatless Monday, Farm Fresh Tuesday, Full Plate Thursday, Encouraging Hearts & Homes, Fridays with Fairytales & Fitness