Coconut Rice and Veggies

Approximate time: 30 minutes

Serves 2

  • 1 bag of spinach (5 ounces)
  • 1 head of broccolini trimmed and cut into thirds
  • 9 shiitake mushrooms sliced
  • 1 zucchini cut in half and then sliced into half moon shapes
  • ½ of a lemon or lime
  • 2 shallots diced
  • 1 inch piece of ginger minced
  • 2 tbsp of coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp of white miso
  • 1 tbsp of tamari
  • 1 can of coconut milk
  • 1 cup of brown rice

1.     Place brown rice or grain of your choice into a small saucepan with half of the can of coconut milk and water.  For example, I like the Trader Joe’s Brown Rice Medley.  Bring to a boil and then cover and simmer for approximately 35 minutes.

2.     While rice is cooking prepare the rest of the veggies.  In another saucepan, steam the broccolini for 5-8 minutes and set aside.  Broccolini should not be too soft.

3.     In a sauté pan, heat up coconut oil under a medium flame.  Once hot, add shallots and ginger and cook until fragrant. 

4.     Once the shallots and ginger have become fragrant, add the mushrooms to the pan.  Cook until mushroom soften and then add zucchini. 

5.     Add the miso and tamari to the sauté pan.  Scrape up any sticking shallots or ginger from the bottom of the pan.  Cook until miso dissolves.

6.     Once miso dissolves, poor the remaining half of a can of coconut milk into pan.  Add steamed broccolini and stir to combine all ingredients.  Squeeze half of lemon or lime into pan.

7.     Serve in a shallow bowl with the coconut rice on the side.

In the Mood for Pasta?

Try my favorite veggie substitute!

I find myself often craving a warm bowl of pasta during the colder months and spaghetti squash is such a great alternative for a healthier option.  It takes almost no prep to make just some time in the oven.  I often like to make this for dinner for myself on a Sunday night as I have probably spent most of the day doing meal prep and the last thing I want to do is cook another meal! 

Approximate time: 55 minutes

  • 1 Spaghetti squash
  • 2 tbs. of toasted pignoli (pine) nuts
  • ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper – I like things spicy but you can certainly cut back on this
  • Olive oil
  • Salt & Pepper

1.     Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2.     Slice spaghetti squash in half; remove seeds with a large spoon.

3.     Place halves cut side up on a lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

4.     Place in the oven and bake for approximately 45 minutes. Depending on the size of the squash you might need to bake it for longer.  You will know it’s done as you can easily pierce the flesh of the squash with a fork.

5.     Remove squash and use a large fork to pull the squash away from its shell creating strands like spaghetti.

6.     Place squash from one of the halves in a bowl and top with pignoli nuts, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper to taste and another drizzle of olive oil.