I don’t know about you but occasionally I have ZERO enthusiasm for cooking dinner. The problem is not just the dinner itself of course, rather it is the shopping, preparing and cleaning that goes along with every meal.
To add to the difficulty, some recipes call for such an exotic array of ingredients that every time I go to make them, there is something missing from my panty.
So this is why I have a few back up recipes that are simple, tasty and healthy and that really require very little effort.
My genius rice bowl meal solution is one of my favourite ways of ensuring there is something nutritious and simple to cook every night. It is based on a lot of really delicious Vietnamese and Korean restaurant food (think Korean Bibimbap) I have eaten and is so flexible that I cook it once a week on average.
The basics of the recipe are as follows
- enough cooked rice to serve the family (brown or white rice, rice noodles for a change).
- whatever protein you can find in your fridge.
- Vegetables from your crisper cooked with some style.
- condiments, seeds and herbs.
- a dash of something saucy
- ProteinI always make a quick omelette with sesame oil & salt and then I shred this up for people to add to their dish as they desire.I also often buy the pre-packed Bulgolgi beef from the supermarket and cook this up in batches.A roast chicken works a treat, as do schnitzels or tenderloins and you could even experiment with meatballs.This panko crumbed tofu never goes astray.
Just remember that your protein is not really the basis of your dish so whatever you cook, cut it up into strips for sharing.
I have been known to use this delicious chicken recipe as my protein component as it also comes with a little sauce.
Vegetables
This is where I tend to focus most of my energy.
You can try
- carrots cut into sticks,
- broccoli roasted with a little chilli and parmesan cheese,
- roasted or mashed sweet potato or
- tumeric roasted sweet potatoe (2-3 sweet potatoes, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1.5 teaspoon of tumeric, 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt),
- chickpea puree,
- brocillini finished off with a splash of oyster sauce,
- roasted cauliflower, or this lemon roasted cauliflower.
- or miso roasted eggplant.
- sauerkraut
- buttery green beans cooked in a little garlic and lemon (or I like Robyn Eckhardt’s braised green beans in tomato).
- Chopped lettuce drizzled with lemon or dressed fresh spinach is also great.
Condiments, seeds and herbs.
Toasted sesame seeds are a must at my house and if my coriander of mint is in bloom then I will always add those too. I often favour some pickled ginger or some chopped fresh red chilli for little bursts of heat. Kimchi and roasted nuts can also be a flavoursome addition.
Sauce
To finish off your dish and to pull it altogether you might like to add some sort of sauce (Hoi sin, plum, sweet chilli).
However, if you have cooked your vegetables well you really want need much of anything.
I will often just serve with a wedge of fresh lime or even stir some “sushi seasoning” through my rice.
On occasion I will make a simple satay sauce.
This is it really.
Some of my favourite combinations are
- Teriyaki chicken kebabs (from the Supermarket), omelette, kimchi, edamame beans (from the freezer), sweet potato roasted, pickled ginger, brocillini and roasted cauliflower.
- Bulgogi beef (supermarket) with pickled cabbage, carrot sticks, sesame seeds, sprouts, sliced raddish and steamed broccoli and cauliflower.
- Plain chicken, satay sauce, green beans, grated carrot, steamed broccoli. peas and fresh coriander.
- Roast chicken with chopped lettuce (dressed with rice wine vinegar) roasted peanuts, sprouts, cooked miniature spring rolls, fresh mint, fresh lime wedges, red chilli, carrot sticks, cucumber and capsicum.
But basically feel free to use your imagination!
I love to let my kids add their own additions to their bowl full of rice (keep it all healthy and you can’t really go wrong).
So next time you are stuck for dinner ideas, why not try my “Genius Rice Bowl Meal Solution” with whatever it is you have in your pantry.
Happy Eating.
Dani xx