Pineapple Caribbean Rice

When football season is over it feels like spring is around the corner. Which means summer time is that much closer. A time for baseball, beach trips and cookouts. Until that time we’re embracing the endless summer vibes with our PINEAPPLE CARIBBEAN RICE. A salty sweet citrus sauce coats pineapple and veggies (zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, red bell pepper, & onion) over jasmine rice and garnished with walnuts for an added crunch. It’s a tasty side for any meal. Perfect with pan fried tofu, vegan sausage, burger or any summer time entree. So let’s get cooking!

PINEAPPLE CARIBBEAN RICE
INGREDIENTS:
•Extra virgin olive oil for skillet
•1 small zucchini, sliced
•2 large white button mushrooms, sliced
•8 fresh asparagus spears, chopped
•Half a red bell pepper, chopped
•5-6 spring onions, chopped. Save some of the green for garnish.
•3-4 garlic cloves, diced
•1 8 ounce can of pineapple chunks, drain and save ¼ cup of the juice for sauce.
•some chopped walnuts for garnish
•small handful cilantro, chopped and more for garnish.
•lemon for juicing
•1 tablespoon brown sugar
•2 tablespoons soy sauce
•1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
•¼ teaspoon garlic powder
•¼ teaspoon onion powder
•salt & pepper to taste
•1 cup long grain jasmine rice
•2 cups water
METHOD:
•Start by bringing 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in rice. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until all water is absorbed. Turn off heat and set aside, covered.
•Give a couple swirls of extra virgin olive oil to a skillet. Turn heat on medium to high heat. When hot, add veggies (zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, red bell pepper, onion, garlic, and pineapple.) Let cook until tender. Add juice of half a lemon and cilantro. Turn heat down to low.
•To make the citrus sauce~ In a bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, juice of half a lemon, pineapple juice, garlic powder, onion powder and salt & pepper to taste.
•Pour sauce over the sauteed veggies. Fold to coat all the veggies with the citrus sauce.
•To arrange~
°Spoon cooked jasmine rice onto platter.
°Layer with the seasoned veggies.
°Garnish with chopped walnuts, the greens from spring onions, and cilantro.
Bon Appetit! 💚