Always keep your eyes open. Keep Watching. Because whatever you see can inspire you. ~ Grace Coddington
The beauty of this Coconut Rice Bowl is that you can adapt it to seasonal veggies and use whatever protein you prefer! Here we are using tofu as our protein along with asparagus and peas in honor of Springtime. The rice is rich and delicious, cooked in coconut milk with a little curry powder giving it gorgeous color and warm flavor undertones without being overpowering. While the rice cooks, the tofu and veggies are prepped, seared, and sautéed.
Finishing this dish with fresh mint, cilantro, lime, and toasted coconut flakes makes the real magic in this dish! Bright herby toasty amazing flavor and texture that will completely elevate your meal. You really don’t want to leave these out!
VARIATIONS ON COCONUT RICE BOWLS
- Rice: brown rice or white jasmine, brown or white basmati, or other grain like quinoa (follow cooking directions on package using coconut milk as part of the liquid required and the remaining with water.)
- Protein: chicken, shrimp, or even fish
- Vegetables: green beans, broccoli, snap peas, colorful bell peppers, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, shiitakes, salad turnips
INGREDIENTS IN COCONUT RICE BOWLS
- Jasmine Rice
- Coconut milk
- Aromatics, Herbs, and Spices: ginger, garlic, lemongrass, cilantro, mint, Yellow Curry Powder
- Protein: tofu (or chicken or shrimp)
- Vegetables: asparagus, green onions, peas (or sub broccoli, snow peas, green beans, peppers, or carrots)
- Coconut oil
- Sriracha (or sambal olek)
- Soy Sauce
- Coconut Sugar
- Toasted Coconut Flakes
- Lime Juice
HOW TO MAKE COCONUT RICE BOWLS
STEP ONE
Cook the rice: Add rice, coconut milk, water, curry powder, salt, and 1 teaspoon of ginger. Bring to a simmer. And cook for 20 minutes.
STEP TWO
Make the Sauce: Whisk together sriracha, soy sauce, and coconut sugar. Set aside.
STEP THREE
Pat tofu dry and cut into thick strips.
Prep veggies. Here we are using asparagus, but you can swap out for your season favorites.
Cutting the asparagus at an angle with cook it more quickly.
STEP FOUR
Sear Tofu (or cook chicken, fish or shrimp if using): Heat a pan to med-high (we like cast iron).
Add 1 tablespoon coconut oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Add tofu and sear for about 3 minutes without moving tofu around, flip over and sear for another 3 minutes. Set tofu aside.
STEP FIVE
Sauté Veggies: In the same pan that you cooked the tofu in add 1 tablespoon coconut oil sauté asparagus (or other vegetables) for about 1 minute.
Add garlic, lemongrass, ginger and stir over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes, until asparagus is tender. Add green onions and 1 tablespoon of water, scraping the pan to loosen all the stuck bits, cooking for another minute more.
STEP SIX
Combine: Add tofu, sauce, peas, and lime juice, stirring to combine. Take off the heat.
To Serve: Place rice in the bowls with a scoop of the sautéed tofu and veggies. Liberally sprinkle mint, cilantro and coconut flakes on top.
Leftovers can be kept in the fridge for 3 days. Gently reheat to serve.
Coconut Rice Bowl
Delicious Coconut Rice Bowl is healthy and adaptable! Curried jasmine rice cooked in coconut milk topped with your choice of protein, and seasonal vegetables all tossed with a simple sauce, fresh cilantro, mint and toasted coconut flakes.
NUTRITION
INGREDIENTS
Coconut Rice
2 cups rice, (jasmine is nice but other white rice is fine.)
1 can coconut milk, about 400ml or 13.5 oz
1 3/4 cups water
2 teaspoons yellow curry powder
1 teaspoon sea salt (less if using table salt)
1 teaspoons ginger, minced or grated
Sauce:
2 tablespoons sriracha (or sambal olek) Adjust to taste- start with less if you like less spice.
1–2 tablespoons braggs liquid aminos or lite soy sauce (use half fish sauce and half braggs if desired)
2 teaspoons coconut sugar (or other sweetener)
Tofu and Veggies
2 tablespoons coconut oil
16 oz tofu
4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
2 teaspoons lemongrass, minced
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced or grated
1 pound asparagus, cut into 1 inch julienne pieces (or use green beans, broccoli, snap peas, bell pepper, carrots)
2 green onions, chopped
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1/2 cup peas (frozen is fine just give a quick rinse under cool water to thaw quickly)
juice of a lime, about 2-3 tablespoons
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1/4 cup fresh mint
1/2 cup toasted coconut flakes (unsweetened)
INSTRUCTIONS
1
Cook the Rice: In a pot with a lid, add rice, coconut milk, water, curry powder, salt, and 1 teaspoon ginger. With the lid on, bring to a simmer. And cook for 20 minutes. Turn heat off and let sit with lid on until ready to serve.
2
Make the Sauce: Whisk together sriracha, braggs or soy sauce, and coconut sugar.
3
Sear Tofu (or cook chicken, fish or shrimp if using): Pat tofu dry and cut into thick strips. Heat pan (we like cast iron) to med-high. Add 1 tablespoon coconut oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Add tofu and sear for about 3 minutes without moving tofu around, flip over and sear for another 3 minutes. Set tofu aside.
4
Sauté Veggies: In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon coconut oil sauté asparagus (or other vegetables) for about 1 minute. Add garlic, lemongrass, ginger and stir over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes, until asparagus is tender. Add green onions and 1 tablespoon of water scraping the pan to loosen all the stuck bits. Cook for another minute more.
5
Combine: Add tofu, sauce, and peas, and lime juice stirring to combine. Remove from the heat. Taste for saltiness adding more braggs or soy sauce if needed.
6
Serve: Place rice in the bowls with a scoop of the sautéed tofu and veggies. Liberally sprinkle mint, cilantro and coconut flakes on top.
NOTES
i
Variations on Coconut Rice Bowls Rice: brown or white jasmine, brown or white basmati, or other grain like quinoa (follow cooking directions on package using coconut milk as part of the liquid required and the remaining with water.) Protein: chicken, shrimp or even fish Vegetables: green beans, broccoli, snap peas, colorful bell peppers, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, shiitakes, salad turnips.
i
The nutritional information includes everything except the protein addition.
