Steamed Vegetables with Spicy Hoisin Sauce

This sassy, savory dish is sure to spice up any dinner for two! 

Easy and elegant, you can impress someone special with this healthy, delicious meal.

Ingredients:

1 pkg of cubed, extra-firm Tofu (O)
1 tablespoon of extra-virgin Coconut Oil (O)
4 tablespoons of Honey

1/2 teaspoon of Sea Salt
1/2 teaspoon, plus an extra pinch of ground Black Pepper
2 cups of Broccoli florets (O)
1 cup of grated Cabbage (O)

1/2 cup grated Carrot (O)
1 cup of Snow Peas
1/2 cup, plus 2 tablespoons, White Onion, finely chopped
4 cups of cooked Brown Rice (about 2 cups uncooked, prepared according to the package directions)
1/2 cup of Tamari (GF) or Soy Sauce
3 tablespoons of White Wine Vinegar
2 teaspoons of minced Garlic
1/2 teaspoon of Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 teaspoon of Poppy Seeds (you can substitute w/ Sesame Seeds, if preferred)


Also Needed: Colander and Steamer Basket

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350*F.

Step 1 - Prepare your brown rice. Quality brown rice takes between 35-45 minutes to prepare. Get you rice boiling and allow it to simmer while you create the rest of your meal. Then everything should be complete at the same time. Cooking is a balancing act and knowing what to start first is always a helpful hint for prep timing. 

Step 2 - Marinate and bake your tofu. Tofu is great at absorbing any flavor you bake into it. For this dish, we bake the tofu separately to really bring the Asian flavor's alive. 

Drain your cubed tofu in a colander and make sure all the water is removed from it. You don't want it wet when you apply the oil marinade, because it won't saturate as well for full flavor. Let it sit and drip while you prepare the marinade for the tofu.

In the microwave, melt you coconut oil and 1 tablespoon of honey together for about 30 seconds, add in a pinch of black pepper, the 1/2 cup of chopped onion and 1 of the teaspoons of minced garlic. Microwave for another 30 seconds. In a baking dish, pour the drained tofu and cover it with the marinade. Place in the oven for 25 minutes, turn the pieces once with a spatula half-way through the cook time. 

Step 3 - Prepare your Spicy Hoisin Sauce. In a small saucepan, over low heat, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons of honey, the remaining teaspoon of minced garlic, the remaining 2 tablespoons of chopped white onion, the white wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, the 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and the poppy seeds. Allow to simmer gently until the rice is done. 

Step 4 - Steam your veggies. In a large saucepan, using a steamer basket, steam your vegetables (broccoli, carrots, cabbage and snow peas) until they become a bright, vibrant green. About 4 minutes. They should maintain a lovely, healthy crunch. 

All the parts of your meal are complete! Serve by layering a bed of brown rice with steamed vegetables, then adding the baked tofu on top. Pour over about a tablespoon of the Spicy Hoisin Sauce and enjoy!

This recipe is:
- Organic
- Vegan/Vegetarian
- Gluten-Free