Vegetable Fried Rice with Tofu

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked brown rice
1/2 cup carrots, diced
1/2 cup celery, sliced on an angle
1 bunch green onions, trimmed and sliced into 1/2' pieces
1/2 cup broccoli florettes
1 pound firm tofu, drained and crumbled
2 tablespoons toasted Sesame Oil
2 tablespoons Tamari [or Soy Sauce]

*Tamari: Originally it referred to a liquid byproduct of miso making. Today known as wheat free soy sauce, tamari is made by fermenting soybeans and salt for at least one year. The resulting liquid has a rich sweet and salty flavor central to Asian cuisine. Due to its robust character tamari is useful in giving vegetarian dishes a meaty flavor.

Directions:
Sauté carrots, celery, onion, and broccoli in the Sesame Oil for 5 minutes. Add the tofu and rice. Cook until the rice is well coated with the oil and vegetables are tender. Add in the scallions and season with the Tamari to taste.

Servings: 4 | Cooking Time: 30 minutes - one hour
Author: Polly Pitchford, Full Spectrum Health™

Vegetable Fried Rice

1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
3/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon white wine or rice vinegar
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon peanut or olive oil
2 carrots, cut into matchstick-size strips
2 cups snow peas, cut into thirds
2 cups bean sprouts
4 scallions (white and light green parts), thinly sliced
4 eggs, lightly beaten

Cook the rice according to the package directions.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and ginger; set aside.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the snow peas, bean sprouts, and 3 tablespoons of the soy sauce mixture and stir-fry until the vegetables are almost tender but still crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.

Return skillet to medium heat and add the remaining sauce mixture, the rice, and scallions. Cook until warmed through, about 1 minute. Make a large space in the center of the rice and pour the eggs into it. Scramble the eggs with a spatula until set. Stir the eggs into the rice. Transfer the rice mixture to individual plates and top with the vegetables.

Tip: You can improvise with whatever vegetables you have on hand, from fresh broccoli to frozen peas. Or, if you?re out of everything green, you can make the dish without the vegetables, just this once.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Vegetable Fried Rice : From Real Simple