Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Two Meals for One Deal: Coconut Rice

I’m always on the search for recipes that can help me stretch an ingredient across a few days of meals. This is a great tactic for those of you who are as lazy as I am at night (I’m useless for anything other than laying on the couch after 8pm). But also, I have a hungry man to feed and he likes a little variety in his meals, especially when it’s a vegetarian one.

Enter a super easy coconut rice recipe that I found on my All Recipes app and altered slightly. On night 1 I used this dish as a side to a yummy gluten free baked coconut chicken dish. On night 2 I scoured the web for tips on turning coconut rice into the main event and came up with an oh-so-amazing Thai fried rice as a result. Use fresh, organic ingredients and look for sauces with no added sugar to keep these meals extra healthy.

It was so good that my man is asking for it by name. BOO YA. 

Meal #1: Baked coconut chicken with coconut rice and steamed broccoli. I adapted this recipe from one I found in the April 2014 issue of Cooking Light magazine.

Ingredients
2 large pcs boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 1 lb), sliced into chicken tender-sized pcs
3 large egg whites, beaten
¾ cup Panko Japanese bread crumbs – I used a gluten free option that you can get at Whole Foods
½ cup flour – I used brown rice flour but you could also sub almond flour or all-purpose flour
½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
2 pinches sea salt or Himalayan pink salt
1 bag pre-cut broccoli or 1 large bunch broccoli
1 ½ cups uncooked jasmine rice or basmati rice
1 can coconut milk – for a slightly lower fat option you can use light coconut milk, just be aware that the taste will not be as pronounced
1 ¼ cup filtered water
1 tsp coconut cane sugar or other sweetener
Olive oil or cooking spray for pan greasing


Optional flavor add ons
1 tbsp sesame seeds or gomasio
½ tbsp sesame oil
3 tbsp mayonnaise – I used a healthier option called Vegenaise but any type will do
2 tsp rice vinegar
2 tsp Sriracha hot sauce
2 tsp low sodium soy sauce – I used a gluten free option


Cooking Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees
2. Combine coconut milk, water, coconut sugar and 1 pinch salt in a pot and cook on high until sugar is dissolved
3. Add rice and bring to boil on medium flame, then cover and cook for 18 minutes on low heat
4. Set aside large baking sheet covered with aluminum foil and greased with cooking spray
5. In three shallow dishes place egg whites, flour, and coconut flakes/Panko breadcrumbs
6.  Dip chicken first in flour, then egg whites and coconut/breadcrumb combo. Press to adhere
7.  Place chicken on baking sheet and repeat with remaining pieces. Top with cooking spray when complete
8. Bake on 450 for 5-7 minutes each side or until done
9. While chicken is baking, place broccoli in steamer pot and bring water to boil and cook for 5-8 minutes until at desired softness
10. Optional add-ins: sprinkle sesame seeds and oil on broccoli, then combine remaining ingredients in a small dish and use as dipping sauce for chicken



Meal #2: Thai coconut veggie fried rice with egg over-easy

Ingredients
Leftover coconut rice (at least half should remain)
¼ cup parsley or cilantro, diced
3 scallions, sliced
3 garlic cloves, diced
1 cup green peas, frozen
1 cup diced carrots, frozen
1-2 tbsp coconut oil
½-1 tsp turmeric
1 pinch sea salt or Himalayan pink salt
2 tbsp fish sauce – you can find this in the international foods section
1 tbsp Sriracha
1 egg per serving
1 lime



Cooking Instructions

1. In a large pan or wok, combine 1tbsp coconut oil and garlic and cook over medium high heat for about 1 minute until garlic begins to caramelize
2. Add peas and carrots and cook for another 2 minutes
3. Mix in rice and salt and turn down to medium heat. Continue to mix for 3-5 minutes, adding another tbsp coconut oil if the mixture is beginning to burn
4. Mix in parsley/cilantro and scallions and cook for 2 minutes
5. Add turmeric, fish sauce and Sriracha, stirring thoroughly between each addition
6.  Before removing from heat, taste your creation and play with levels of fish sauce, turmeric and Sriracha if you need more flavor. Add slowly!
7.  Remove from heat and set aside
8. In a small nonstick pan, coat with cooking spray and cook egg sunny side up or over-easy
10. Serve rice in bowls with an egg and wedge of lime with each portion



Happy Dining!

Xo Saranna

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