you're not lazy, you're just efficient

when you need a break from the evening post workout routine grind, pop this in a rice cooker and it’ll do the cooking on its own! everything cooks together, with a bit of seasoning, lots of protein, and even more fiber.

for the base, you’ve got purple rice, with tons of grains as fiber, but it doesn’t stop there. kabocha squash adds a light sweetness, fiber, and goes perfectly with the chestnut and mushrooms that also get dropped in. the protein is marinated in a garlicky, soy marinade then layered on top of everything so its flavors coat everything!

but this is just the combo i put together for tonight’s meal. once you understand the formula, you can make this with any other combo you can think of:

• base of purple rice

• veggie options:

  • 1 harder veggie (daikon, carrot, sweet potato, kabocha squash)

  • 1 softer veggie (mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant)

  • leafy greens get sauteed first, then added at the end

• proteins:

  • meat must be well seasoned through marination or the use of salted meats!

now here’s the recipe I used to make this version…

• 1 lb pork belly

• Pork belly marinade:

  • 1 tbsp shaoxing wine

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce

  • 1 tsp of dark soy sauce

  • 2 tsp five spice powder

  • 2 tsp white pepper powder

  • 1 big pinch of salt

  • 1 tbsp of sugar

• Purple rice:

  • 3/4 cup jasmine rice

  • 1/4 cup mixed grain rice

  • 3/4 cup of water

• 4 dried morel mushrooms, rehydated

• 1/4 kabocha squash cut into 1 inch cubes

• 1/4 cup edameme beans

• 1 packet of shimeji mushrooms

• 1 packet of roasted chestnuts

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tbsp sake

• 2 tbsp mirin

• Slice the pork belly into thin strips then mix into a bowl with the marinade ingredients

• Let the pork marinate for at least 15 mins or overnight

• While pork marinates, wash the rice well, then add to the rice cooker with 3/4 cups of water, the kabocha squash, edamame, mushrooms, chestnuts, then the soy sauce, sake, and mirin

• Once the pork is ready, layer it on top of the rice and other ingredients

• Place the morel mushrooms on top and set to cook on the regular rice setting

• Enjoy with miso soup on the side!