With Rice Pilaf Spicy & Avocado

This dish is largely inspired by a “Plated” recipe, a former meal delivery service that’s now transitioned to meal kits you can purchase in select stores. We’ve got a nice base of basmati rice pilaf mixed with caramelized shallots, toasted cinnamon, and dried cranberries. Our veggies are comprised of oven roasted chickpeas & purple cauliflower (purple because... why not?) dressed in olive oil and garam masala. To balance these earthy flavors, the spicy avocado brings a nice zing to the dish from the jalapeño to round everything out. Garnished with toasted cashews and mint leaves, you’ll be finishing this dish up full and satisfied... unless you’re down for seconds like I usually am!

Nutritionally, we’ve got a lot of good stuff going on here. First off, this recipe is virtually all plant-based! So you know you’re getting a solid amount of fiber in this recipe. Fiber is essential for various reasons including the growth/maintenance of healthy gut bacteria, assisting in regular bowel movements (yes I went there 💩), and can also help maintain healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels by slowing down absorption. Fats are found throughout each element of this recipe from olive oil (or oil of your choosing), avocado, and cashews. This recipe’s also jam packed with vitamins and minerals from mint, cilantro, and spice blends throughout.  At the end of the day, we’ve got ourselves a BALANCED meal.

And for those of you who are worried about protein, no need to fear! We’ve got a complete set of proteins thanks to the chickpeas and rice working together to give you a dose of all the essential amino acids you need in your diet. In other words, essential amino acids are the proteins that our bodies cannot make on their own, therefore we need to get them from our food. The classic example of a complete plant-based protein is beans and rice and is a major staple in a lot of cuisines around the world. 

Needless to say, I’m obsessed with this recipe. I’ll usually make this dish at least once a month, and Mario is also a huge fan of it too 👌🏼! Give this recipe a whirl and see how you feel about it. If you’re like me, you’ll love the heat this dish brings (mainly from the avocado spread). If not, ditch the jalapeño (or remove the seeds) and swap for a pepper with less spice, or maybe even go for more zesty with some lime instead.