Veggie Fried Rice with Sunny-Side Up Eggs

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Staples like boil-in-bag rice can be a time-saving shortcut in this vegetarian version of a popular takeout stir-fry that’s topped off with eggs, a budget-friendly protein.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

One 14-ounce package boil-in-bag rice
2  tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 garlic clove, minced
2 large carrots
2 tablespoons vegetable, divided
1/2 cup of broccoli florets
1/2 cup sugar snap peas
1/4 cup green beans
1 rib celery, sliced
1 small red bell pepper, julienned
One 8-ounce can water chestnuts, drained
2 green onions, sliced
4 large eggs

Directions:

Prepare the rice according to package’s stovetop directions. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil.

In a wide pot, heat 1 tablespoon canola oil on medium-high. Add garlic and carrots. Cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the stir-fry vegetables. Cook  2 to 3 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

Pour rice from the bag into the skillet, along with soy sauce mixture. Cook 2 minutes stirring often. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and  cover to keep warm.

In a 12-inch nonstick  or cast iron skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon of  oil on medium-high. Add the eggs and fry for 1 – 2 minutes, until whites are mostly set. Cover skillet and cook  for an additional 2 minutes or until yolks are at the desired doneness. Season with salt and pepper.

To serve, place the eggs on top of fried rice.

Cook’s Notes:

If you cannot find all the vegetables at your local supermarket, feel free to substitute one 16-ounce  bag frozen Asian stir-fry blend in this recipe. Make sure that the frozen vegetables are thawed  and drained before cooking.

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Turkish Red Lentil and Rice Soup

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IMG_0335 lentils

Did you know that lentils are edible seeds from the legume family? They are well known for their lens shape and sold with or without their outer husks intact.Though they are  a common food staple in Asian and North African cuisines, the greatest production of lentils nowadays is in Canada.

For the most part, lentils have a number of health benefits. They are low in calories, rich in iron and folate and serve as an excellent source of protein. They  also pack health-promoting polyphenols and may reduce several heart disease risk factors and type 2 diabetes.

Lentils are often categorized by their color, which can range from yellow and red to green, brown or black. Red lentils are  are split and cook quickly. They’re great for making dal and soups and have a somewhat sweet and nutty flavor.  And the best part about lentils is that they are easy to cook and do not require pre soaking prior to cooking, making them perfect for soups and stews.

And with that being said, Turkish Red Lentil and Rice Soup fits the bill for healthy eating on a budget, especially during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

 

This simple, yet robust soup is rich with spices and tomato. It gets a pleasantly thick body from white rice and  red lentils, which soften and break down during cooking. The Aleppo pepper is a wonderful addition, lending a gentle heat. If you can’t find it, order online or substitute with an additional teaspoon of paprika and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes. 

 

Serves 4

Ingredients:

For the Soup:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion cut into ½-inch dice (about 1 cup)
1 medium garlic clove, finely grated
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup red lentils
2 tablespoons long-grain white rice
3 cups water
2 cups vegetable broth
Kosher salt, to taste
For the Aleppo pepper oil:
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper
For Serving:
Chopped fresh mint leaves or basil leaves
Lemon wedges 

Directions:

In a large saucepan over medium, melt the butter. Once it has stopped foaming, add the onion then sauté until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste, paprika and cumin, then sauté for 1 minute.
Add the lentils, rice, water, vegetable broth and 2 teaspoons salt, then bring to a boil. Adjust heat to maintain a lively simmer, cover and cook until the lentils and rice are tender and broken down, about 30 minutes. Taste and adjust salt.
Meanwhile, in a small skillet over medium, heat the olive oil, swirling to coat the pan. Add the Aleppo pepper and cook until a few bubbles appear and the oil is bright red. Remove from heat and set aside. Serve the soup with Aleppo pepper oil drizzled over each serving.
Serve with mint or basil and lemon wedges.

Stir Fried Chicken with Asian Vegetables

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IMG_0132 stiry fry chicken with vegetables and ginger and honey
This Asian inspired chicken  stir-fry dish has the taste of  syrupy honey and spicy ginger  paired with savory-sweet oyster sauce and aromatic Chinese five-spice.The addition of snow peas brightens the color of the dish and adds a little snap and makes this a one-skillet meal.  Just note that in preparation, the chicken marinates for 15 minutes before cooking, making it is a good time to prep the snow peas. For a complete meal, serve this dish with steamed rice.
Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:
For the Chicken:
¼ cup oyster sauce
3 tablespoons dry sherry
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey, plus more to serve
1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut crosswise into thin slices
5 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons grapeseed or other neutral oil
4 ounces snow peas, trimmed
2 ounces baby corn
2 ounces julienned carrots
For Serving:
Steamed Rice
DIRECTIONS:
In a medium bowl, whisk together the oyster sauce, sherry, soy sauce, honey, five-spice and ½ teaspoon pepper. Stir in the chicken and ginger. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.
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In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high, heat the oil until barely smoking. Using a slotted spoon, add the chicken and ginger to the skillet in an even layer; reserve the marinade. Cook without stirring until lightly browned and the drippings at the edges of the pan are deeply caramelized, about 3 minutes.
Add the snow peas, corn, carrots and reserved marinade, then cook, stirring and scraping up any browned bits, until the peas are crisp-tender and the chicken is opaque throughout, another 3 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Serve drizzled with additional honey, if desired.

COOK’S NOTES:
Do not add the chicken to the skillet until the oil begins to smoke. A very hot pan achieves quick browning and liquid reduction without overcooking the lean chicken breast.

Hello Friends!

All photographs and content, excepted where noted, are copyright protected. Please do not use these photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this photograph and all other contents, then we kindly ask that you link back to this site. We are eternally grateful and we appreciate your support of this blog.

Thank you so much!

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