Spicy Plum Summer Bowl

It is early August and plum season is still in full swing until October. Here’s a summer bowl that will keep you full for the day with carbs, healthy fat, and protein for a balanced diet. I will preface this by saying I am no chef: I am a writer, singer and body builder, that needs high protein, plant-based food to support my lifestyle. I am also a busy, busy woman, and don’t often spend time marinating or going the extra mile for my food at this stage of my life, but hopefully can start once I get a better handle on planning and prepping my meals. The food I eat every day is quick, delicious, and versatile.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of uncooked quinoa

• tofu (I aim for about 18 grams worth for this recipe)

• mixed Greens (can be substituted with kale or spinach)

• 1-2 Plums

• 1 avocado

• 1/8 cup of sesame oil

• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger

• miso paste

• 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds

• 1 tbsp crushed red pepper (adjust or exclude as desired)

• garlic powder/salt

First things first, I get the tofu and quinoa cooking, in separate dishes of course. Follow instructions on the packaging for cooking your 1 cup of quinoa. For the tofu, I use a frying pan, a quarter-sized amount of sesame oil to grease the pan, and add salt and garlic powder to taste as I go.

While this is cooking, I create my sesame-ginger dressing. I take my 1-inch piece of ginger, 1/8 cup of sesame oil, 1 teaspoon of miso paste, 1/2 cup of water, and 1 tbsp of red pepper and put it in a blender until it’s smooth and creamy. Of course adjust or eliminate the red pepper if you are averse to spicy food. This makes just about enough for 1 serving, so please increase the recipe accordingly. This dressing also goes great with a bunch of other recipes, and can be used to marinate the tofu overnight as well, if you are great at planning ahead.

While I’m waiting, I cut up the plum and avocado, and leave them on the cutting board until everything is ready. When the quinoa is finished, I put it into my serving bowl and let it cool for about 10 mins before assembling the mixed greens, tofu, avocado, and plums. Once that is done, I dress my salad with the deliciousness we just created, top with sunflower seeds for added protein/texture, then mindfully enjoy my meal with gratitude.

Sahtein! (Arabic meaning “two-healths,” and a phrase commonly used before eating).

-MB♡