Throwback in the kitchen

This week was quite a healthy one (if of course you do not count the domino pizza which we had on Friday eek). I have heard a lot on quinoa, about how it is super nutritious, rich in protein (and what else- just know it's a super food). Well I tried in for the first time last week, through sunrice- you know the ready-made rice packets (they are definitely handy). It tastes surprisingly good (just quite like normal rice actually). So, when I save up a lil (they are quite pricey for sure), I will buy the seeds and cook it . I have seen how it is cooked already and it takes only 15 minutes.

First picture: Steamed green beans and asparagus
Second picture: Quinoa rice with the green veggies and a bowl of my lentil soup.
Third picture: Quinoa rice with pan-fried salmon.

These are a few of the healhty dishes of this week.

 

'Green' Risotto (recipe)

This was my first time cooking and tasting Risotto. I have heard of it tremendously lately and I was like why not giving it a try as something new.  I looked up for some recipes and finally chose the one I found easier and it was on the rice packet itself. I bought Riviania arborio rice. In the recipe it says bacon, but instead I used snow peas and zucchini. I kind of wanted a really ‘greeny’ risotto.  The dish turned out great. Well for a first time, it tasted good. I really think that it is a  really nice dish to try because you can make up your own risotto in terms of ingredients.

Recipe (adapted from the Riviani recipe):

Ingredients: 

2 tsp olive oil

30g butter

Garlic (I love garlic so I put about 3-5 cloves)

1 lg onion chopped

2 cup arborio rice

1 zucchini grated

A  bunch of snow pea,chopped roughly

1/4 cup of white wine

4 cups chicken stock, simmered

2 cups button mushroom, sliced

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Chopped parsley

Groud black pepper

Procedures:

Heat olive oil and butter in a large heavy base saucepan.

Add garlic and onion and cook for about 1-2 minute.

Stir in rice and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until rice slightly colours, stirring frequently.

Add wine and simmer to absorb liquid, stirring constantly.

Begin adding stock, a cup at a time, allowing each adittion to be absorbed and stirring well before each addition.

After first cup, add mushrooms. Adjust consistencies with extra water/stock, if necessary.

After third cup, add zucchini and snow peas. When all stock is absorbed, remove pan from heat and stir in cheese, parsley and pepper.

Chicken broccoli & snow pea sautee

After reading and coming across so many articles taking about eating green vegetables, I felt obliged to cook some. I have not been cooking broccoli for a long time, so it was about time to rectify this mistake. Health benefits of broccoli include strengthening bones, protecting your heart, controlling blood pressure,  saving eyesight and combating cancer. I also added snow peas, which is also a super veggie.
The dish is a complete meal, vegetable, protein, fibre and carbohydrates (accompanied with rice). My advice is to try having at least one green vegetable in your meal daily. It is definitely worth it.

I come across this picture which I took after cooking a vegeterian version: