This book is exactly what it sounds like: over 100 recipes (yep, that's a LOT of recipes!) that are served in bowls.

Does the book explain why it chooses to focus on this single vessel? No, no it does not. Does it present a thesis beyond "things in bowls are good"? Nope. But is it still a super solid cookbook? Sure thing!

If you're down to live a totally bowl-focused life, this would honestly be a pretty solid one-stop-shop cookbook to expand your cooking horizons. It offers a variety of recipe types and flavor profiles, and while recipes aren't super basic, they were all accessible enough for me (an optimistic but easily intimidated recipe-follower) to understand. Often, cookbooks end up focusing either on overly simple, familiar recipes or shooting for the moon and feeling impossible to follow, and this one hits the sweet spot. It also feels like it hits the sweet spot of health-consciousness—these recipes are varied, often vegetable-forward, and still flavorful and fun. That's always great to see!

Now for the super fun 🥬vegetarian perspective🥬 portion of this review. This book, as previously mentioned, contains a TON of recipes, so frankly, almost anyone could find someone to love. That said, if we're looking at proportion of vegetarian recipes to nonvegetarian recipes, this didn't quite hit the mark I personally look for. Specifically, I was a bit bummed when I reached the protein section and found that it contained 1 vegetarian recipe and 40 nonveg recipes. Folks, it's 2025! We all know that there are tons of amazing protein-forward dishes that don't contain meat! Now, in fairness, this may have been an issue in naming—the section prior is "salads and plant-based bowls," and it does contain numerous entree-style vegetarian dishes. But it's always a bummer to have to skip through an entire section of a book. (My standard veggie disclaimer: I'm aware that not all cookbooks are vegetarian-friendly, and that's 100% fine! But when a book highlights its "Vegetarian and vegan bowls" as a major selling point in its description, I want my fellow veg heads to know what they're getting into.)

On a similar note, the book description promises "Rice bowls that cut down on waste and make the most of your leftovers" and "Recipes that are easy to adjust based on the size of the crowd," but while the book certainly does include those things, they're definitely not a highlight. This is purely a recipe book, not focused on teaching, so don't expect tips on leftover reuse or recipe scaling! I was completely fine with that, but I wouldn't want anyone to be bummed out if they bought the book hoping for more of a focus on those things.

My one noteworthy quibble with the book is with its organization. As previously mentioned, I found the sections a bit odd, but beyond that, it felt a bit like the recipes were kind of thrown together with no relationship or explanation. I was truly shocked by the new flavors and cuisines I was seeing on each page, which was fun, but could also make the book a bit tough to navigate. If I were to reference the book regularly, I could see myself relying heavily on the index (or on sticky notes) to find whatever I was looking for, simply because the order of recipes just doesn't feel very intuitive. Similarly, while the photos were gorgeous, they weren't always next to the recipes in the eBook (and often they were placed AFTER the recipes), which felt a bit confusing at times.

Overall...
• 4 out of 5 stars for vegetarian friendliness
• 2 out of 5 stars for vegan friendliness (Note: I'm no longer a vegan—a vegan could judge this better than I could! But many vegetarian-friendly recipes contain cheese, eggs, or yogurt, so while you'll definitely find a few vegan gems in here, you may need to do some veganizing)
• 3 out of 5 stars for organization
• 5 out of 5 stars for recipe variety
• 5 out of 5 stars for making me want to get cooking right away!

(Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the temporary eBook loan of this book! All opinions are, of course, my own.)

I loved the 5 bowls that I did get to make! They were flavorful and easy to put together with the recipe listed. Unfortunately I ended up traveling a lot for work and didn’t get to try as many as I wanted but the pictures were beautiful and I will buy it so I can revisit the recipes I didn’t get to try. Thank you for the arc read!

Thank you to Cider Mill Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC for an honest review.

If you're looking for a recipe book with a variety of recipes from around the world (with a plurality from the Indian subcontinent) that are easy to make, not overly complex, and delicious, give Bowls a look! I appreciate that the recipes here are direct and with little preamble. There are even conversion charts in the Index. The photographs included are also very high quality and will make your mouth water before you even start cooking. I do think it could have done with a bit more organizing throughout, but it is worth the perusal nonetheless.

Thank you NetGalley for an opportunity to read this book in exchange for a honest review.

This book is filled with adventurous recipes that are visually appealing. I live in a small community and found that many of the ingredients could be hard to find or inaccessible in my market. In addition, many of the unusual ingredients seems to be one off use, so I would have a hard time justifying the expense. That said I could see myself taking elements of the recipes to combine to make something I could enjoy while finding the ingredients easily. Bowls are a staple in my lunch routine and I did find some creative new options to audition.

Good home cooking book packing a nice punch of flavours.
Find recipes from around the world in those pages, each with a heavy dose of spice and joy.
Would recommend if you don't yet have your favorite curry recipes and are looking for a wide range of varied Asian favorite to add to your weekly meal planner.

Love me a good bowl! This cookbooks is easy to follow and contains tons of tasty and healthy recipes. Can’t wait to try more of them. The food styling was done well and love having the pictures to see what it’s supposed to look like at the end.

Quick Easy Bowls for a cozy night or a stressful work day, this book has all you need. From asian bowls to Mediterranean bowls this book gives a quick recipe to whip up when you are in need. I am definitely trying these for lunch and I urge others to get this as well

This cookbook features very easy recipes. I highly recommend it; it's worth buying. If you love to cook, this book is for you. The recipes are simple to make

Bowls focuses on recipes for nourishing bowls. The cookbook purposes is making healthy recipes in a short amount of time, but they range in simplicity.

The Sections are
Breakfast
From the Garden: Salads & Plant-based bowls
Protein Packed
Snacks & Sides
Desserts
Appendix

Each recipe has yield, active time, total time, recipe blurb, ingredients, directions and a photo of the meal. The recipes are straightforward and easy to follow with limited ingredients. The cookbook is perfect for someone getting started or a home chef. The tex-mex breakfast, acai bowl, cauliflower shawarma are just a few I'm excited to try.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! As a young working professional who loves cooking but doesn't always have the time to create elaborate dishes, this book is exactly what I needed. The recipes in this book are vibrant, colorful, and realistic for everyday meals, even on weekdays. The book is packed with over 100+ recipes all organized into sections (breakfast, from the garden, protein packed, snacks & sides, desserts), and the photos accompanying them are gorgeous. Seriously makes you want one of those bowls IMMEDIATELY.

The recipes are approachable and simple to make yet packed with flavor, and everything feels customizable for how you want to enjoy it. So if you're looking for a cookbook that makes healthy eating seem fun and cozy, this book is a great addition to your collection!

I haven't tried any of the recipes yet, but I definitely will. There are many great recipes in the book, however, I think many of them I would not define as "bowl" as for example pasta dishes, as you don't have to serve it in a bowl. Under the term "bowl" I rather understand something like Buddha Bowls. It feels like it was just to have as many recipes as possible in the book, I think there it would be better to differentiate a bit more.

This is a great cookbook for those who are looking for easy ideas for lunch bowls. There are some desert recipes included here as well. I will definitely be cooking some of these bowls. The recipes are easy to follow and are straightforward.


Thank you to NetGalley and Ayesha for letting me read this book!

If you love meals that are easy to throw together but still look incredibly impressive, this book is a winner. The recipes are simple, flexible, and packed with fresh flavors—perfect for busy days when you want something healthy without spending hours in the kitchen.

The best part? You can easily swap ingredients and dressings to suit your taste, making every bowl feel fresh and customizable. Plus, the photos are absolutely drool-worthy. Whether you're into veggie-packed grain bowls, cozy ramen, or protein-heavy meals, there’s something here for everyone. A great go-to for fuss-free, flavorful eating!

This is a fantastic cookbook! There are recipes that could accommodate different diets and they all seem simple to make. The photos are beautiful. I would recommend this! The recipes I'm most excited to try are tex-mex breakfast,taco salad, chicken fried rice, butter chicken,and peanut butter ice cream. Special Thank You to Ayesha Singh,Cider Mill Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Bowls is the perfect cookbook for anyone who loves easy, comforting meals without the hassle. I’ve been on a bowl kick recently but quickly found myself recycling the same recipes over and over. So excited to finally have some variety! The recipes are simple, adaptable, and perfect for busy days when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.

Thank you NetGalley and Cider Mill Press for this eCopy to review

As someone who loves experimenting in the kitchen, Bowls by Ayesha Singh was an absolute delight to explore. This cookbook is a treasure trove of over 100 recipes, each designed to create vibrant, healthy, and satisfying meals—all served in a single bowl. From hearty rice bowls to refreshing salads and comforting noodle dishes, the variety is incredible.

What I loved most about this book was its versatility. Singh draws inspiration from cuisines around the world, offering everything from South Indian-style curries to tropical fruit bowls. The recipes are easy to follow, with ingredients that are accessible and adaptable. I particularly appreciated the inclusion of vegetarian, vegan, and protein-packed options, making it suitable for a wide range of dietary preferences.

The photography is stunning, and each dish looks as good as it tastes. I found myself bookmarking so many recipes to try, and the ones I’ve made so far—like the Tofu Makhani and the Karahi Paneer—were bursting with flavour. The sauces and dips section was a game-changer, adding depth to even the simplest meals.

It’s not just a cookbook—it’s a celebration of creativity and nourishment.

Bowls is a fun, versatile cookbook that delivers exactly what it promises—over 100 "unbowlievable" recipes that are easy to prepare and packed with flavor. It pulls inspiration from a variety of global cuisines.

I appreciated the balance between healthy and hearty dishes, as well as the variety of ingredients that keep things interesting. The recipes are straightforward and adaptable, making it easy to customize portions or tweak flavors to suit personal preferences. That said, some recipes call for specialty ingredients that might not be pantry staples for everyone.

Overall, this is a great cookbook for anyone who enjoys fuss-free, flavorful meals in a bowl. It’s practical, inspiring, and perfect for busy days when you want something satisfying without a ton of effort.

I am enjoying this cookbook. It offers easy to follow recipes and pictures. I work from home so this is very convenient to prepare and eat! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy.

A lovely collection of bowls for various meals and situations. An international book of recipes that has a lot of inspiration and suggestions to liven up your meals. The book includes a selection of basic recipes in the appendix that are used in a number of the larger recipes in the book. The focus on bowls makes a nice compact meal, perfect for lunches, or quick meals when you're short on time.

This was one to get into, but not necessarily as exciting as I thought. With titling it "Bowls", I thought it would be a little bit more creative with different styles and ways to combine yummy ingredients/components. But this was a collection of recipes, all various types, that you can put in a bowl to eat, or a plate. So then Bowls should have just been a regular cookbook with great photos and stories and recipes.

Mind you, the collection here is great. There are some fave dishes that I'm glad to try because they're common and delicious, comforting meals, and the directions are written well. And the photos - those always help since I'm usually inspired by photos first. They are stunning and attractive and show how the author truly loves this. Just a little disappointed from what the title promised.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.