.png)
If you’ve never tried Kimchi Brown Rice Bliss Bowls, now is the perfect time! As the season shifts, the lightness of spring makes me crave fresh, vibrant meals. So, pile your plate high with crunchy, creamy, savory, and spicy components that make these hearty bowls feel light, healthy, satisfying, and—most importantly—fun to eat! This recipe isn’t just for vegetarians but for anyone who loves delicious, vegetable-forward meals.
I’m excited to share this healthy and flavorful dish. These Kimchi Brown Rice Bliss Bowls are a delicious mix of crunchy fresh veggies, creamy avocado, spicy kimchi, tangy peanut sauce, and hearty brown rice, topped with savory marinated grilled tempeh steaks. If you’re trying to encourage someone to eat more plant-based meals in 2025, this is a great recipe to start with! Hearty, satisfying, and fun to eat, these bowls make a fantastic make-ahead lunch or an easy dinner.
Before the recent craze around “Impossible” and “Beyond” plant-based burger brands, I was already a big fan of tempeh. It has a great nutty flavor and firm texture—so it’s no surprise it’s becoming more popular! If you’re new to tempeh, check out these directions to learn what it is and how to cook it. Then, try it in these bowls! The flavorful marinade and fresh ingredients really make it shine.
Cooking TempehTempeh is one of my favorite sources of plant-based protein. I love its earthy, nutty flavor and firm texture, but most of all, I love its versatility. It crisps up beautifully, works well in stir-fries, and can even be crumbled as a substitute for ground meat.
You can prepare tempeh in various ways—I often bake, grill, sauté, or sear it. If you’re new to cooking this plant-based protein, baking is a great place to start. Here’s how I do it:
1. Chop the tempeh. Cut it into 1-inch cubes, triangular “steaks,” or ½-inch-thick slices. This recipe works with different shapes!2. Steam it. You might be thinking, Wait... aren’t we baking it? Yes! But steaming for just 10 minutes helps soften the tempeh, allowing it to soak up even more flavor from the marinade. Totally worth it!
My Veggie Bowl ComponentsThese veggie bowls are simple to put together! The most time-consuming part is cooking the tempeh—and even that’s easy. I steam it for 10 minutes, marinate it, and then grill or bake it. If you don’t have a grill pan, baking works just as well!
Kimchi Brown Rice Bliss BowlsI could eat this healthy vegan bowl every night of the week! Savory grilled tempeh, kimchi, and peanut sauce pack it with bold flavors.
Once the tempeh is cooked, assemble the bowls with these components:- Cooked brown rice. I prefer short-grain brown rice, but long-grain brown rice, cauliflower rice, or even quinoa would work well.- Kimchi. It adds a fantastic tangy, spicy pop of flavor. I use store-bought kimchi for convenience.- Cucumber ribbons and red cabbage. For crunch! Steamed asparagus, snap peas, or roasted broccoli would also be great additions.- Avocado. Because it makes everything better.- Lots of peanut sauce! My simple recipe is easy to stir together—creamy, spicy, sweet, and savory. Yum!
Even if you’re not a tempeh fan, I urge you to try it in this recipe! However, if you’d like to swap the protein, baked tofu or roasted chickpeas would work great.
Ingredients1 cup cooked brown riceHeaping ¼ cup kimchi* (see note)1 Persian cucumber, peeled into ribbons½ cup thinly sliced red cabbage½ avocado, sliced8 ounces marinated tempeh, baked or grilled½ recipe peanut sauce½ teaspoon sesame seeds2 Thai chiles, thinly sliced (optional)Lime slices, for servingMicrogreens, for garnish (optional)Finish your bowls with sesame seeds, Thai chiles, microgreens, and a big squeeze of lime juice. Then, dig in!
Instructions1. Assemble the bowls with the rice, kimchi, cucumber, cabbage, avocado, and tempeh.2. Drizzle a generous amount of peanut sauce on top and sprinkle with sesame seeds and Thai chiles, if using.3. Serve with lime slices and extra peanut sauce on the side. Garnish with microgreens, if desired.
NotesFor vegans and vegetarians, I recommend Mother-in-Law’s Vegan Kimchi—it’s easy to find at Whole Foods and most natural grocery stores. If you're vegan or vegetarian, be sure to read the label, as many kimchi varieties contain fish products.