While shopping at Trader Joe’s the other day, their new products shelf had Organic Brown Rice & Quinoa Pasta. It’s gluten free and has 5 grams of protein per serving so I decided to give it a try.
I’ve been in the mood for Thai recently, but rather than going my usual spicy route, I decided to make a mild sauce using almond butter instead of peanut. The end result was excellent. The pasta is a bit chewier — somewhere between rice noodles and regular pasta. Its flavor and texture melded very well with these ingredients.
I also used Trader Joe’s pre-packaged broccoli and cauliflower florets which cut down on the prep time, so the whole meal was ready in about 20 minutes. And I steamed the vegetables rather than pan-frying in oil. This is my version of healthy, delicious, fast food!
Ingredients (serves 4)
1 package tofu (cut into cubes)
6 ounces broccoli florets (about 2 cups)
6 ounces cauliflower florets (about 2 cups)
1 zucchini (cut into ¼ inch sliced half-moons)
1 red bell pepper (cut into thin strips)
1 bunch green onions (cut in 1 inch pieces)
½ pound pasta/noodles of choice (cooked per package instructions)
Sauce Ingredients
4 tablespoons almond or peanut butter
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons Bragg’s Amino Acids (or soy sauce)
1 tablespoon ginger (finely minced)
1 teaspoon garlic (finely minced
1 tablespoon sesame oil (I used toasted)
½ cup water
Directions
1. Cook pasta per package instructions.
2. Mix all sauce ingredients together in a bowl (or food processor/blender).
3. When pasta is cooked, drain and immediately mix in with the sauce so pasta is thoroughly coated.
4. Place the broccoli and cauliflower florets in a wok-style non-stick skillet with ½ cup water over high heat, cover, and let steam for 3 minutes.
5. Add tofu, zucchini, peppers and onions. If needed, add just enough water to maintain steam. Cover and steam over medium-high heat another 2 minutes.
6. Add pasta with sauce, cover and cook for another 2 minutes. If you want the vegetables to be softer, cook another minute or two.
7. Adjust soy sauce to taste, if needed, and serve hot immediately.
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