Veggie Fried Rice

 

Garden veggies never had it so good.

BY SUSIE MIDDLETON, Martha's Vineyard Magazine

Use this fried rice recipe as a template and make it with your choice of seasonal veggies. It’s especially good for using up small bits of leftover veggies in your fridge or as a destination for summer garden veggies.  I developed this recipe (based on my Gingery Fried Rice with Broccoli or Asparagus recipe) to help you reduce food waste in your kitchen, so don’t be shy about using thinly sliced broccoli, cauliflower, or Swiss Chard stems in this (in addition to florets and leaves). Radish tops or beet greens, thinly sliced, can go in, too. I always include a bit of either onion, bell pepper, or mushroom if I can, as those aromatic veggies give off moisture as they cook and help soften the other veggies. Green beans, asparagus, bok choy, okra – they’re all good! The photo at top shows a summer version with green beans, peppers, Fairy Tale eggplants and okra. The photo below shows a spring version with asparagus and chard stems.

Recently my stir-fry pan died and I've been temporarily using my large nonstick skillet instead. Since the skillet has more surface area, I'm finding I need a little bit more oil than I do with the stir-fry pan. Use your judgment and add what you think is best, but be judicious. 

I like to keep this rice vegetarian, but when I’m cooking for my carnivore, I add some diced ham into the pan with my vegetables when I begin the stir-fry.

If you’re in a rush or don’t have the ingredients for the little sauce, you can skip it and just add soy sauce (and maybe a squeeze of lemon or lime) to taste at the end.

Ingredients

For the sauce

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons sherry or mirin
• 2 teaspoons Chinese oyster sauce
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon Asian chili-garlic sauce

For the rice

• 1 to 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (grapeseed is perfect for high-heat cooking)
• 2 generous cups thinly sliced or small diced vegetables (your choice, include a bit of onion or bell pepper)
• Kosher salt
• 2 to 3 teaspoons minced fresh garlic 
• 2 to 3 teaspoons minced fresh ginger (optional)
• 1/3 cup thinly sliced scallions or chives
• 2  to 2 ½ cups cold cooked short grain brown rice 
• 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, mint, cilantro, or a combination
• 1 to 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, toasted sliced almonds, chopped peanuts or any nuts  
• 1 egg, cooked into a flat omelet and cut into strips (optional)
• Lime or lemon wedges 

Instructions

For the sauce

1. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, sherry or mirin, oyster sauce, 2 teaspoons water, brown sugar, and chili-garlic sauce.

For the rice

1. In a large (12-inch) nonstick stir-fry pan (or large nonstick skillet), heat the 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat.

2. When the oil is hot, add the vegetables and 1/2 teaspoon salt, turn the heat to high, and cook, stirring, until the veggies are crisp-tender and all the pieces are lightly browned, about 4 to 6 minutes. Add a teaspoon or two more of oil if necessary.

3. Add the garlic, the ginger (if using), and half the scallions or chives. Stir-fry for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

4. Add the rice and cook, stirring and breaking the rice up with a spoon, until the rice is heated through, broken apart, and slightly “toasted” (you will hear it crackle), 1 to 2 minutes.

5. Carefully pour in half of the sauce, and stir until well incorporated. Immediately remove the pan from the heat. Taste and add a bit more sauce; you may not need it all.

6. Stir in the herbs and transfer the rice to a serving bowl or plates. Garnish with the remaining scallions, nuts, and egg strips (if using). Serve with lemon or lime wedges.

Rice Paper Dumplings

These Rice Paper Dumplings are crispy on the outside, chewy and filled with flavourful goodies on the inside.

Author: Cooking with Ayeh

Prep Time: 15 mins, Cook Time: 5 mins, Total Time: 20 mins

Servings: 12 dumplings 

Ingredients

For 12 dumplings                           Single Serving (2 lg dumplings or 3 rolls)

• 20 rice paper sheets                  4 or 6 sheets
• 6.5 oz firm tofu                           1 oz
• 7 oz mushrooms                          1 oz
• 2 small carrots                             1/3 carrot
• ¼ small green cabbage                1/12 cabbage
• 2 spring onions (aka scallions)    2/3 of a scallion 
• 4 garlic cloves                              1 clove
• 2 tbsp soy sauce                           1/2 tbsp
• 1 tsp sesame oil                            1/4 tsp
• 1 tbsp olive oil                              1/4 tbsp
• Salt and pepper
• Ginger
• Oil for frying

Instructions

Prepare your filling by shredding the cabbage and carrots finely. Finely dice the garlic and mushrooms into small cubes.

Using your fingers, crumble the tofu into small pieces.

In a large pan sauté mushrooms for a few minutes in olive oil. Once browned add the carrots, cabbage,  garlic and tofu. When they’re half cooked and starting to soften, season and grate in some ginger

Add soy sauce along with a dash of sesame oil, stir through and take off the heat. Stir in chopped spring onions and set the mixture aside to cool down.

Make a dipping station with a tray of water, along with a wet chopping board or damp clean tea towel to wrap the rice paper dumplings on.

Dip a rice paper sheet in water for a few seconds and place on the damp surface. Add a spoonful of the filling mixture in the center of the sheet in a rectangular shape.

Starting at the bottom, fold over the rice paper sheet to cover the filling. Then fold the top of the sheet over the filling, then the same with the sides so you will be left with a square/rectangle shape pocket

Dip a second rice paper sheet in the water, place on the damp surface and place the pocket in the middle. Wrap the pocket the same way by folding from the bottom first and so on, to double-wrap the filling

Repeat this process until all the filling has finished

If not air frying, pan fry the dumplings in your preferred oil over a medium-high heat for a few minutes on each side until lightly golden.  If air frying, lightly brush with oil and air fry.

Serve with a dipping sauce.

Red Lentil and Carrot Curry

Author: Brittany Dixon for A Healthy Slice of Life

This nourishing curry recipe is perfect for when you need something comforting and delicious on the dinner table quickly!

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1.5 tsp grated ginger
• 1 small onion, small diced (about 1 cup)
• 2 large carrots, small diced (about 1 cup)
• 1.5 Tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1.5 cups red lentils
• 1.5 tsp salt
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 can full fat coconut milk
• 3 oz chopped baby spinach
• Juice of half a lime

Directions

• In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat.
• Add onion and carrots. Sauté 4 minutes until onions are beginning to soften. Add garlic, ginger, curry powder, and turmeric to the pan and sauté for 1-2 minutes more, until fragrant.
• Add lentils, salt, broth, and coconut milk to the pan. Bring to a boil while mixing well, then cover and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Let simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from heat.
• Take off the lid, add spinach and lime juice and stir to combine. Serve over hot buttered rice.

Notes

If you’d like a thinner consistency, slowly add 1/2-1 cup more of vegetable broth as the curry simmers, stirring well, until it reaches your desired consistency. Adjust seasoning as needed and enjoy as a soup!