BUDDHA BOWL

You could have a noodle bowl every night and never exhaust the possibilities. Lay out a table full of options and let your guests create their own signature bowl (see whole Buddha bowl bar here).

NOODLES

Dried vermicelli rice noodles or buckwheat noodles: cook al dente (follow package directions) and chill

Dried lo mein, stir-fry, or spaghetti wheat noodles: cook al dente (follow package directions) and chill

Zucchini noodles

FOR THE RAW FOODIES!

CRUNCHY

Butter lettuce: clean and tear

Carrots: peel, julienne, and rinse

Bell peppers: julienne and rinse

Snow peas: julienne

Red onion: shave thin, rinse under cold water, and chill

Hothouse cucumber: slice wicked thin into half-moons; toss with sesame oil, rice vinegar, chile oil, sesame seeds, mint leaves, and a pinch of salt; chill

Celery stalks: slice

GRILL THE STALKS FOR MORE FLAVOR

Red cabbage: thinly shave

Kale: remove the ribs, shred the leaves, and rinse

Asparagus: steam; or brush with toasted sesame oil, salt, and pepper and grill, pan-sear, or roast at 400ºF for 1 minute; cut into 2-inch pieces on an angle; chill

Baby bok choy: chop; sauté in hot skillet with 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon sliced garlic, and pinch each of salt and pepper until tender yet crunchy, 2 minutes; chill

Fresh steamed or canned baby corn: rinse

Fresh poached or canned sliced lotus root: rinse

Fresh steamed or canned sliced bamboo shoots: rinse

Canned sliced water chestnuts: rinse

SHARP

Yellow onion: cut into wedges with root end intact; brush with coconut milk and lime juice and a pinch of salt; grill and chill

Green onions: slice thin

Radishes: slice thin, rinse, and chill

LOOK FOR DIFFERENT COLORS

TANGY

Lemon and/or lime: cut into wedges for squeezing

Pok Pok Som Chinese celery drinking vinegar

FUNKY

Plant-based fish sauce

AT 24VEGAN.COM!

Local, wild mushrooms: quickly pan-sear

HERBAGE

Cilantro, mint, parsley, basil and/or Thai basil: clean and pick leaves

SPICY

Homemade Badass Sriracha (here) or other sriracha

Red pepper flakes

Chile paste

Thai chiles: slice

SLICK AND SALTY

Ninja Tamari Glaze (here)

Toasted sesame oil

Carrot Coconut Dressing (here)

GARNISH

Sesame seeds

WHITE AND BLACK!

Crispy fried garlic or shallots

Ninja Nuts (here) or toasted almonds: chop