Veggie Power Bowl Recipe

5 from 4 votes

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At 25 grams of plant-based protein and 11 grams of fibre per bowl, this veggie power bowl recipe is nutritious and satisfying.

It features baked tofu, roasted sweet potato, edamame and fresh veggies with brown rice or quinoa, all finished with miso tahini dressing. The components keep well in the fridge, so it works just as well for meal prep as it does for dinner. These bowls are a great way to include more plant-based meals in your diet.

A colourful veggie power bowl with sweet potato, tofu, rice, edamame, cucumber, radish and spinach all topped with sauce. There's another bowl in the background.

Ingredients You’ll Need

All the ingredients for making vegan veggie power bowls with tofu, radish, cucumber, rice and sweet potato. Each ingredient is labelled with text overlay.

Tofu and Bowl Ingredients

  • Tofu: Use firm or extra-firm tofu for this recipe. I did not press the tofu but you can if you prefer.
  • Tamari: Use tamari or substitute soy sauce. If gluten-free, be sure to use tamari.
  • Rice Vinegar: You can use seasoned or unseasoned rice vinegar.
  • Garlic Powder: You’ll need a big of garlic powder to season the tofu.
  • Grains: Brown rice or quinoa is suggested but you can use any grain for your bowl.
  • Sweet Potato: You’ll need one medium-sized sweet potato. The amount doesn’t have to be exact.
  • Greens: You can use mixed greens, baby spinach or substitute kale.
  • Edamame: Use shelled edamame or substitute chickpeas.
  • Fresh Veggies: For fresh veggies, the recipe calls for radish and cucumber. These can easily be substitute with ingredients like bell pepper, snap peas, grated carrot or thinly sliced red cabbage.
  • Dried Fruit: Use goji berries or dried cranberries. You can substitute raisins.
  • Seeds: The recipe calls for sunflower seeds but pumpkin seeds or hemp hearts also work well. You can substitute any seed or use a small handful of chopped walnuts or almonds.

Miso Tahini Sauce Ingredients

  • Miso Paste: White or yellow miso is what I use here, it’s mild and slightly sweet, which works well with the tahini. Red miso is more intense and fermented longer; it’ll work in the dressing but the flavour shifts noticeably toward savoury and salty. I’ve tested both and prefer white for this bowl. If you can only find one type, white is the more versatile choice.
  • Rice Vinegar: Seasoned or unseasoned rice vinegar is ok.
  • Maple Syrup: You’ll need just a little maple syrup to balance the acidity. You can use agave syrup or honey as a substitute.
  • Tahini: I used a very drippy, smooth and creamy tahini. Good tahini should be pourable, not stiff or dry, and not overly bitter.
  • Tamari: Use gluten-free tamari or substitute soy sauce.
  • Ginger: You’ll fresh/raw garlic and ginger. Note if you’re not blending the dressing, it’s best to grate the ginger and garlic so the dressing is smooth.
  • Oil: You can use olive oil, grape seed oil or avocado oil.

Quick Tip: For an oil-free miso tahini dressing, use this recipe.

Variations

How to Make Veggie Power Bowls

There are a few steps to make veggie power bowls so be sure to review the recipe beforehand to help you move efficiently. To speed things up, you can marinate the tofu overnight, and make the dressing and rice or quinoa the day before.

Step 1: Cook Grains. If you don’t have cooked brown rice or quinoa prepared. Start that first, cooking your choice of grain according to the package instructions.

Wild rice cooking in a pot. Spoon rests in pot.

Step 2: Marinate Tofu. If you’d like to slice tofu into triangles, cut the block in half then slice each half into 4 thinner squares. Slice the squares on the diagonal so you end up with 16 triangles. Otherwise, you can slice it into cubes.

A block of tofu being cut into triangles.

Add the triangles to a container with the tamari, vinegar, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix and set aside to marinate, tossing occasionally.

Tofu triangles being mixed in marinate in a container.

Step 3: Make Miso Tahini Dressing. You can either blend the miso tahini sauce or whisk it together in a container if you grate the garlic and ginger (you want it to be smooth).

Creamy miso tahini dressing in a small glass container with a spoon in it surrounded by some spinach in a bowl, radishes, cucumber and dried cranberries in a small dish.

Step 4: Roast Sweet Potato. Slice the sweet potato into rounds and add them to a baking sheet with 2 tsp oil, salt and pepper and toss to coat.

Spread them in an even layer and bake for 20-25 minutes until tender and golden.

Roasted sweet potato slices on a baking sheet.

Step 5: Roast Tofu. To a second baking sheet, add the tofu slices in an even layer and place in oven with sweet potato for 20-25 minutes, flipping half way through.

Roasted crispy tofu triangles on a baking sheet.

Step 6: Prepare Bowl Ingredients. Once you get the sweet potato and tofu in the oven, prepare the rest of the bowl ingredients.

Chop the cucumber and radish, prepare the edamame and gather the goji berries or cranberries and sunflower seeds.

Chopped cucumber and radish on a cutting board with a bowl of shelled edamame beans.

Step 7: Assemble Bowls. Start with a handful of greens in 4 bowls then top each with equal amounts ofrice, edamame, cucumber, radish, tofu, sweet potato, goji berries or cranberries and sunflower seeds.

Drizzle with your desired amount of miso tahini sauce and enjoy!

Overhead view of a vegetarian veggie power bowl with sweet potato, tofu, radish, cucumber, edamame and rice.

Deryn’s Notes

  • The tofu marinade benefits from extra time. Fifteen minutes is the minimum but 30-60 minutes gives you more flavour.
  • For the dressing, use the best tahini you have. A dry, bitter tahini makes a dry, bitter dressing. Good tahini should be pourable and slightly Earth and sweet in flavour. If your tahini is stiff, add a teaspoon of warm water and stir before measuring.
  • Don’t skip roasting the sweet potato in a single layer with space between the rounds. Crowded sweet potato steams instead of roasts and you lose the caramelization that makes it worth including.
  • You may not need all the dressing for 4 bowls but leftover dressing keeps for up to a week in the fridge and works on salads, roasted vegetables, other bowls or as a dipping sauce.

FAQs

How much protein is in a veggie power bowl?

Each bowl has 25 grams of protein, coming primarily from the tofu (roughly 10g per serving), edamame (8–9g per cup) and sunflower seeds. If you want to push it higher, use quinoa instead of brown rice, quinoa has about 4g more protein per serving than rice.

Can I make veggie bowls for meal prep?

Yes. Roast the tofu and sweet potato, cook the grains and make the dressing ahead of time store each component separately in the fridge. The dressing keeps for up to a week; everything else keeps for 3 days. Assemble when you’re ready to eat and add the dressing just before serving so the greens don’t wilt.

Can I use a different protein?

Chickpeas are the easiest swap, use one can, drained and roasted with the same tamari and garlic powder marinade. Tempeh works well too: slice it thin, marinate and bake the same way as the tofu. For a non-vegan option, sliced grilled chicken, prawns, salmon or a soft-boiled egg both work with the miso tahini dressing.

What can I use instead of miso paste?

The miso is is key in this dressing, it adds umami depth and a slight fermented flavour that’s hard to replicate. If you’re not using miso, you can use the maple tahini dressing from my Fall harvest salad or this maple dijon tahini dressing.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, as long as you use tamari instead of soy sauce throughout, and confirm your miso paste is gluten-free.

How to Store

  • Dressing can be made 2-3 days in advance and stored in the fridge.
  • Tofu can be marinated overnight.
  • Once assembled, the bowls will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge with the dressing stored separately.
  • Leftover bowls can be enjoyed cold or reheated in the microwave. Reheat before adding dressing.
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Overhead view of a vegetarian veggie power bowl with sweet potato, tofu, radish, cucumber, edamame and rice.
5 from 4 votes

Veggie Power Bowl Recipe

By: Deryn Macey
Hearty veggie power bowls with plenty of nutrition and flavour, all smothered in an addictive miso tahini dressing.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 4 bowls
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Ingredients 

For the Tofu

  • 1 400 g block firm or extra-firm tofu, drained and patted dry
  • 2 tbsp tamari, 30 mL
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 15 mL
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper

For the Miso Tahini Sauce

  • 2 tbsp miso paste, 40 g
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 15 mL
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup, 15 mL
  • 3 tbsp tahini, 45 g
  • 1 tbsp tamari, 15 mL
  • 1- inch ginger, peeled (15 g)
  • 1 clove garlic, 7 g
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
  • ¼ cup water, 60 mL
  • ¼ cup oil, 60 mL

For the Power Bowls

  • 2 cups cooked brown rice or quinoa
  • 2 medium sweet potato, cut into ½-inch rounds (335 g, about 3 cups sliced)
  • 2 cups mixed greens or baby spinach, 60 g
  • 1 cup cooked edamame, 175 g
  • 1 cup chopped cucumber, 170 g
  • 4 radishes, cut into half-moons (82 g, ½ cup)
  • 4 tbsp goji berries or cranberries, 30 g
  • ¼ cup toasted sunflower seeds, or other nut or seed of choice (33 g)
  • sunflower or pea sprouts, optional

Instructions 

  • Cook Grains: If you don’t have cooked brown rice or quinoa on hand, start preparing it now according to the package instructions.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 F.
  • Slice Tofu: To slice the tofu into triangles, cut the block of tofu in half, then cut each half into four thinner slices. Cut each slice on the diagonal, in half, so you have 16 triangles in total. Otherwise, it’s ok to cut the tofu into cubes.
  • Marinate Tofu: To a sealable container, add sliced tofu, tamari, vinegar and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper,  then toss to coat. Set aside for 15 min to marinate, tossing occasionally or place in a sealed container, refrigerate and marinate overnight.
  • Make Dressing: All all of the dressing ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. If you prefer not to use a blender or don’t have one, the dressing can be whisked together in a bowl as long as the garlic and ginger are grated so they’re smooth.
  • Bake Sweet Potato: Add the sweet potato rounds to a baking sheet with 2 tsp oil. Season with salt and pepper and toss to coat. Arrange the rounds in an even layer then roast on the middle rack for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through until tender and golden brown.
  • Bake the Tofu: Add the marinated tofu slices to another baking sheet and add to the oven with the sweet potato. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, flipping half way through. Alternatively, you can cook the tofu in a hot pan in 1 tbsp of oil over medium-high heat for 4-6 minutes per side.
  • Prepare Bowl Ingredients: While the tofu and sweet potato are baking, chop the cucumber, prepare the edamame and gather the remaining bowl ingredients.
  • Assemble Bowls: Divide the mixed greens between 4 bowls. Top each bowl with equal amounts of rice, edamame, cucumber, radish, tofu and sweet potato. Top with goji berries or cranberries, sunflower seeds and sprouts, if using. Drizzle each with desired amount of miso tahini dressing.

Video

Notes

Dressing can be made 2-3 days in advance. Tofu can be marinated overnight. Once assembled, the bowls will keep for 2-3 days in the fridge with the dressing stored separately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl with sauce, Calories: 618kcal, Carbohydrates: 61g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 33g, Sodium: 898mg, Fiber: 11g, Sugar: 10g
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Deryn Macey

Deryn Macey is a nutrition coach, certified personal trainer, and the creator of Running on Real Food, where she's been sharing nutritious recipes since 2013. She holds a science degree and offers strength training and nutrition coaching through Onward Strong, focusing on strength, sustainable eating habits, and breaking free from diet culture.

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13 Comments

  1. Hello Deryn,
    Just a quick note to tell you how happy I am to have found your site. I’ve come to a vegan lifestyle very late in life after trying numerous was to feel good and lose weight. Because I need to restrict calories (1200 to 1350) and especially fat (less than 20 gr/day), your recipes are so helpful. Over the last couple years I’ve read numerous books and cookbooks, have virtually attended docuseries and summits, and viewed numerous YouTube videos. So many proponents of a whole-food plant-based lifestyle (whether SOS- or SOFAS-free or not) do not understand that some of us still need to restrict quantity.

    All that said …please continue to include the nutrition information for your recipes!

    Best regards,
    Sandy

  2. OMG this bowl was everything. It was sooooo tasty – the mix of ingredients was perfect. The miso tahini sauce was the star of the show though. The recipe made enough to leave leftovers and I’ve been using it as a salad dressing since. SO good.