Recipes – Shape180

Caribbean Style Rice & Beans

October 25, 2017January 5, 2021shape180Leave a comment

Ingredients:

Long Grain Rice – 2 cups; thoroughly rinsed until water runs clear
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – 2 tbs
Red Onion – 1/2 medium; diced
Garlic Cloves – 4-5; minced
Mushroom Caps – 4 small; sliced
Bell Pepper – 1/2; diced
Fresh Bay Leaves x 2
Fresh Thyme – 1 tbs
Vegetable broth bouillon cube x1
Coconut Milk – 19oz can
Water – 3 cups
Red Kidney Beans – 190z can; drained & thoroughly rinsed
Creole Seasoning – 4+ tbs
Salt & Pepper – a few dashes

Instructions:

Heat a large sauté pan or skillet on medium/ low heat. Wait a couple of minutes for the pan to heat up, then add 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. After the oil has time to heat, toss in the red onion and minced garlic. Shortly after include the bell pepper, mushrooms, and fresh thyme. Stir it all around and add a dash of salt and black pepper.

Now its time to add the long grain rice that you have washed extremely thoroughly. Even it all out then pour 3 cups of water into the pan. The coconut milk is then added along with the vegetable broth bouillon cube, 4+ tablespoons of creole seasoning (I love this seasoning so I don’t hold back), and the rinsed red kidney beans. Finally, add the 2 fresh bay leaves and bring it to a simmer.

Cover and reduce heat, stiring freuquently to prevent burning, adding water if necessary. It takes about 20-25 minutes for the rice to cook and water to evaporate, at which point you’ll be left with a creamy rice thats not only delicious and nutritious, but also free of animal products. Do not forget to remove the bay leaves prior to serving.

Creole Seasoning Blend:

2 tbs Onion Powder
2 tbs Garlic Powder
2 tbs Dried Basil
2 tbs Dried Oregano
1 tbs Dried Thyme
1 tbs Black Pepper
1 tbs White Pepper
1 tbs Cayenne Pepper
5 tbs Paprika
3 tbs Salt

creole seasoning

In a small bowl, combine all of the above ingredients. Store in an air tight container.

You may be able to find this seasoning already made up at your grocery store, likely in the international isle. I did not have such luck, but easily picked up all the herbs and spices at bulk barn.

Recipe: Curry Chickpea

June 6, 2017June 6, 2017shape180Leave a comment

Basmati Rice – 1 cup+
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – 1 tbsp
Red Onion – 1 Small or Half a Medium; diced
Small Garlic Cloves – 3 Large or 5 to 6 Small Cloves; minced
Bell Pepper (red, yellow or green) – Half; sliced
Salt and Pepper – a few shakes
Curry Paste (red, yellow or green) – 2 tbsp
Coconut Milk – 1 can
Tomato – 1 small; diced
Cumin – 1 tbsp
Crushed Cayenne – 1 level tbsp *optional
Soya Sauce – 2 tbsp
Brown Sugar – 2 tbsp
Lime – 1; juiced
Chick Peas – half a can; drained and thoroughly rinsed
Basil Leaves – 3 Leaves; dried or fresh

I rarely eat meat, and I do my best to limit my intake of dairy products. With that said, while I wouldn’t consider myself vegan, I do try to avoid animal products as much as possible. This leaves me searching for nutritious and satisfying meals that are easy to make and won’t empty my wallet. Thankfully this hasn’t been hard to do and I have managed to master (I think so anyways) a few solid recipes.

The recipe I want to share today is a Chickpea Curry Dish. I have listed the ingredients in the order in which they should be added to a large skillet; except for the rice, which should be cooked separately – ideally in a rice cooker.

I find it easiest to dice, mince, and slice all of the veggies, and have all the ingredients ready to go before starting the cooking process. You can heat up the skillet on medium / low high heat while cutting your vegetables, adding the oil after it has been heated.

After adding the extra virgin olive oil, toss in the diced red onions and minced garlic cloves. Let this fry for a couple minutes, then add the sliced bell pepper. I prefer to use green bell peppers but its completely up to you. Add a few shakes of salt and pepper on top of the veggies and make sure to stir/ flip it around.

Next step is to add the curry paste. Please note the word paste – not sauce! I like to use red – but again it is up to you what colour you want to incorporate. Toss in 2 tbsp and stir it around the pan and the vegetables. Shortly after, add the can of coconut milk and continue to stir until the colour become homogenous.

Toss in the diced tomato and add a tbsp of cumin. I love cumin and it certainly couples well with the curry paste to add even more flavour. On that note, I also recommend adding some crushed cayenne or chilli flakes to add some heat; but how much, if any, is your choice. Afterwards, add the soya sauce, brown sugar, and the juice from 1 lime into the mix. Give it a good stir then finally add the half can of chickpeas (I find a full can to be way too much) and 3 basil leaves. Let this sit, stirring occasionally for 15-20 minutes.

Serve in a bowl with a side of rice and enjoy!

Couscous with Lime and Cumin Dressing – Super Easy and Quick to Make

November 21, 2013shape180Leave a comment

What you’ll need:

Lifesmart Couscous – ½ cup	2 limes, juiced
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Less than ¼ cup	Cumin – A few shakes
Celery – 1 or 2 stalks	½ Bell Pepper
Red Onion – ¼ of a small to medium onion

Couscous:

Use a kettle to boil water, or bring just over a ½ cup of water to a boil on the stovetop. Feel free to use vegetable or chicken broth instead.
Pour the ½ cup of dry couscous into a pot.
Measure out a ½ cup of the boiled water and pour it evenly over the dry couscous, cover, and let sit for 5minutes.
During this time, finely chop up your celery, onion, and bell pepper.
After 5 minutes, remove the lid and fluff with a fork.

Dressing:

Pour just less than a ¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil into a measuring cup.
Squeeze the juice of 2 limes into the measuring cup and give it a stir.
Add a few shakes of cumin (and a little cracked pepper and sea salt if you like).

Put It Together:

Add your veggies to the couscous.
Drizzle the dressing on top and mix it together.

Thats it! This will be enough for a 2-4 servings, but feel free to play with the measurements depending on your taste and needs. I keep the dressing to a minimal with this recipe so it stays very light and refreshing, as it compliments the nutty flavor of the couscous nicely.