I’ve been really busy but doing most of my writing from home. Which also means I’ve been doing most of my “lunching” from home. While I have quite a few tried-and-true go-tos, there are days when I’m craving something new, different, unexpectedly delicious. And so, my Asian Style Lunch Bowl was born. The no-egg version weighs in at around 420 calories. With an egg, it’s around 500 calories.
I shopped my fridge for the ingredients. Luckily we had one bunch of bok choy left over from dinner a few nights earlier. If you don’t have (or like) bok choy, broccoli would be a good substitute. Here’s what I came up with:
Bok Choy, 1 cup coarsely chopped (just down to where leafy green turns into stalk or substitute broccoli florets)
Baby Bell Peppers, 1/2 cup (I like the colors these minis offered but any pepper will do.)
Sweet White Onion, 1/4 cup (No tears, please!)
Quinoa, 1 cup (previously cooked and frozen)
Edamame, 1/2 cup (frozen, thawed in microwave)
Egg, 1 (optional, yolk optional too)
Oil, 1 tsp (LOVE La Tourangelle Pan Asian Stir Fry Oil but Peanut or Sesame oils good alternatives)
Assorted Asian sauces (I actually wasn’t sure which sauces I was going to use, if any, and ended up using just a dash of Soy and Teriyaki Sauces at the very end. Just remember more sauce = more calories…and sodium.)
Salt & pepper (pinch of salt, lots of pepper)
Red pepper flakes (a sprinkling for some added heat)
Sesame Seeds, 1 tsp (last minute addition — next time, will toss them in at the start to toast)
- COARSELY CHOP BOK CHOY, ONION AND PEPPERS.
- ADD OIL TO NON-STICK PAN OVER MED HIGH HEAT. ONCE OIL STARTS TO SIZZLE, TOSS IN CHOPPED ONIONS AND PEPPERS. STIR TO COAT WITH OIL, THEN COVER UNTIL ONIONS START TO TURN TRANSLUCENT.
- TOSS IN CHOPPED BOK CHOY, STIR, COVER FOR ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES.
- FINALLY, ADD COOKED QUINOA AND EDAMAME. STIR, THEN COVER FOR ANOTHER MINUTE OR SO. YOU WANT TO HEAT THROUGH BUT NOT OVERCOOK YOUR VEGGIES.
- IF DESIRED, COOK EGG IN SAME PAN AFTER YOU’VE PUT VEGGIES & QUINOA IN A BOWL.
- EAT! Truth be told, I quickly dispensed with the chop sticks and went for a spoon. I was too hungry, and it was too good. It was also filling enough to keep me from snacking before dinner. I still can’t get Chris to eat quinoa, but this Bowl would make a great solo at-home dinner option as well. Just add Netflix!