Veggie Fried Rice Bowl, the Recipe!

Without further ado, the Veggie Fried Rice Bowl recipe taken from The Meat Lover's Meatless Cookbook by Kim O'Donnel.

Veggie Fried Rice Bowl
We've all been there: Tonight's the night you've got just 20 minutes to put dinner on the table. With some cold cooked rice on hand (make a pot the night before), you can whip up the bestest and fastest food there is. This version defies old stereotypes and delivers light, bright results, a workful of colorful veg that still have their crunch. 

Note: This dish requires cold cooked rice, so plan to make ahead, at least 4 hours in advance. Chop and prep all ingredients before even thinking of turning on the wok.

Makes three or four 2 cup servings. 

Ingredients
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3 teaspoons sesame oil
2 large eggs, beaten (plan B: 1/2 cup toasted chopped cashews)
1/2 cup shallots, diced (about 2 bulbs)...we used onion
Fresh chili peppers, seeded and minced (use what works best for your heat tolerance)
1 Tablespoon minced garlic (2-3 cloves)
1 cup diced carrots (about 2 carrots) or chopped fresh green beans
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
4 cups cold cooked rice (about 1 1/3 cups uncooked rice)
1 cup mixed celery, diced, and baby bok choy, chopped into 1 inch pieces
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro for garnish

Here's What You Do
1. Heat a wok or a deep skillet over high heat.
2. Place 1 Tablespoon of the vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil, and the eggs in the wok. Tilt the wok so that the eggs cover the entire surface, making it thin as a pancake. Cook for about 45 seconds; the egg will set quickly. With a thin-edged flipper or tongs, fold the egg in half and transfer to a cutting board. Cut into thin strips.
3. Add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil, followed by the shallots, chili pepper, and garlic and stir-fry for about 20 seconds. Add the carrots and bell pepper, lower the heat to medium, and stir-fry for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture begins to soften.
4. Add the rice and celery mixture. With a wooden spoon, break up any clumped rice as needed. Add the soy sauce and stir well, and cook for an additional 3 minutes or so. Stir in the egg strips.
5. Turn off the heat. Stir in the cilantro, if using, and drizzle the remaining 2 teaspoons of sesame oil.

Note: You may make this dish without eggs. If so, eliminate the teaspoon of sesame oil at the beginning of the recipe and proceed with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. going straight to adding vegetables and aromatics. Stir in the cashews just at the end, before serving.

Fried Rice, the healthy way

I received a package in the mail the other day. I was delightfully surprised that my good friends Tiffany and Justin, all the way in DC, mailed us a cookbook! It is called The Meat Lover's Meatless Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes Carnivores will Devour by Kim O'Donnel.

I was complaining to Tiffany that I needed some more protein in my diet, being a vegetarian, and how many eggs can a person eat! I was delighted to receive this little nugget of inspiration that is filled many protein packed meals.

We are going to try a handful of recipes in the next few weeks, but I really liked the Veggie Fried Rice Bowl. And it's super simple. First you heat up wok with vegetable oil and sesame oil and fry a scrambled egg in it. Then you remove the egg and cut it up for later. Then you add some great veggies like carrots, peppers, a leak, and some bok choy, or probably whatever you want.  And don't forget cold rice! That's the secret. We actually had cooked brown rice a few days before just for this meal and it turned out perfect.

We added some fried tofu for some extra protein umph.

We mixed everything together.

And fed it to a hungry Amy!

It was muy excelente!