BUILD-YOUR-OWN Buddha Bowl / Warm Salad
One quick and easy way to make your salads Chinese-Medicine-friendly is to convert them to warm salads – perfect in summer and winter! Salad combinations are limited only by your imagination, but here are a few ideas to get you started.
Step 1. Vegies
Obviously an essential component of any good salad! Some options to consider are steamed greens, such as broccoli / chinese broccoli / broccolini, asparagus, kale, silverbeet, green beans, etc. If you are feeling like a more hearty base to your salad, incorporate some roast vegies like beetroot, pumpkin, squash, potato and carrots. If you’re feeling adventurous you could trying roast celeriac, parsnip and turnips. Or sautee some tomatoes, zucchini, mushroom or onions – whatever takes your fancy! Warm salads are also a great way to use up leftover stirfries or sides from last night’s dinner.
Step 2. Carbs (optional)
If you want carbs in your salad, choose from gut-friendly and gluten-free carbs such as potato, sweet potato (avoid this if you have been diagnosed with “Damp”), buckwheat or quinoa. Rice noodles or mung bean vermicelli are an easy addition, and only require soaking in hot water for a few minutes (no cooking!). White rice can also be… More detail here
One-Pan Frittata with Avocada Salsa
Quick, easy and using only one pan means less clean up! I like to make a big batch to last for several meals.
Easily customisable to your needs, i.e. if you’ve been recommended to avoid dairy, replace milk with broth, water or coconut milk.
Paleo Eggs in Hell
Tomatoes are rich in lycopene – an antioxidant superhero that supports detox and is great for the brain, heart and bones.
A great dish for any time of day, you can serve it with a side of steamed greens and rice or potato.
Congee (Rice Porridge)
A Chinese cure for all ills, congee is gentle and nourishing for digestion and great for beating colds.
Customise it to your taste with ginger, spring onions, carrot, mushroom, fish, poached chicken, etc. and pop an egg on top.
Egg Frittata Breakfast Muffins
A twist on the classic frittata – make these in muffin trays for an easy breakfast or snack on the go.
Again, make these your own: add mackerel, tuna or free-range bacon. Great with pumpkin & mushrooms too!
Breakfast Fried Rice
Those of us who have travelled through Asia know how delicious this breakfast staple can be!
The options are endless for this dish – it’s a great way to use up leftovers, as anything goes: roast chicken, steamed veg, etc.
Buddha Bowls
Buddha bowls are a great way to get your protein, fats, carbs and veg in one great-tasting dish – they are basically another way to eat warm salad.
Totally customisable to your taste and your pantry / fridge.
Savoury Millet Breakfast Bowl
A beautifully nourishing and hearty breakfast bowl.
Get creative with the ingredients – you can easily swap out millet for other non-gluten, gut-friendly grains like buckwheat, quinoa or rice.
Avgolemono (Greek Egg & Lemon Soup)
Delicious at any time of day, you could also try a vegetarian version minus the chicken, and using whatever vegies appeal – root vegetables would pair nicely with the creamy texture. I’ve also been adding ginger and turmeric for extra warmth and digestive support.
Baked Turkey Meatballs with Guacamole
One of my favourite things about travelling in South-East Asia is the amazing AND healthy snacks on offer at any time of day or night. Patients often ask me what they can snack on, and in most cases I will suggest something warm that incorporates vegies, carbs, protein and healthy fats, to keep energy levels and digestion operating smoothly.
This recipe follows the classic “protein on a stick” idea of a lot of great street food, and is easy to make and easy to snack on 🙂 You can also make this with chicken, and fresh herbs and vegies to the ball mix, for extra flavour. Enjoy!
Paleo Butter Chicken
I always have to make a big batch of this dish: it never lasts long in our house, as it is delicious at any time of day (and can be added on top of veggie buddha bowls).
This- recipe contains lots of stimulating and warming spices to boost digestion and bust inflammation (add a healthy twist of cracked pepper to supercharge the benefits of the turmeric in this dish). Bon appetit!
Grilled Chicken, Rice & Bok Choy Bowl
YUM!! Some more breakfast (and lunch and dinner) inspiration. The combination of chicken, rice* and greens has become my go-to meal over the years.
*Just remember to use white rice, not brown, as it is much harder to digest and contains phytates (anti-nutrients that bind to vitamins and minerals to prevent their absorption) – and feel free to freestyle it and mix up the ingredients to suit your tastes.