Healthy Fried Brown Rice

Healthy Salmon Fried Brown Rice with Kikkoman Soy Sauce (not low-sodium.)

I love Chinese-American food, and I love making Chinese-American food. In the past I have made Orange Chicken, Lemon Chicken, and Chicken Fried Rice. At Chinese-American restaurants, I usually order Orange Chicken or Fried Rice; however, these dishes are usually high in fat and sodium due to the amount of oil, sugar (in the sauces), eggs, and soy sauce.

Healthier Vegetarian Fried Brown Rice

In order to compromise my love for fried rice and desire to eat healthier, I made the two dishes you see. I made fried rice healthier by reducing the amount of oil normally used, omitting the eggs, using brown rice (you could also use cauliflower rice), adding less soy sauce (or use low-sodium soy sauce), and incorporating more veggies or healthier meats such as salmon.

The results? A quick, delicious, and satisfying meal that more than satisfies my craving for the unhealthier version! This dish was a cinch to make. I made the brown rice the day before and let it rest in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, I made the fried rice in a non-stick pan so that I wouldn’t need much oil. In fact the oil was used to cook only the salmon and veggies. I then complimented my fried brown rice with some hot, black tea.

Even if you are not trying to lose weight, you should definitely try this dish out! 

Healthier Vegetarian or Salmon Fried Rice
Serving size: 1-2 people
1-2 cups of brown rice, cooked preferably the day prior (I followed the instructions on back of the bag)
1 Tbsp of olive or coconut oil
Salmon (I used one of the frozen portions of skin-on salmon), optional
Mixed Vegetables (up to you! I used garlic, mushrooms, onions, and frozen mixed vegetables)
1-2 Tbsp soy sauce (preferably low-sodium)
Pour 1 Tbsp of oil in a hot wok or skillet. If using salmon, cook the salmon for 3-5 minutes each side. Cook the onions, mushrooms, and garlic (or whatever veggies you’d like) alongside the salmon. Remove everything from the skillet and set them aside. 
If using a non-stick wok/skillet: without adding extra oil, heat up the cooked brown rice and frozen, mixed vegetables. While they are heating up, cut up the salmon. Once the rice and veggies are heated up, add the salmon and other veggies back in with the rice. Once sufficiently combined, mix in the soy sauce. Turn off the heat. Serve, and enjoy!
Copyright – Memoria James – http://www.mangiodasola.com

Iced Green Tea

In 2008, I decided to stop drinking soda for good. I upheld that promise for over a year and then started drinking soda again. I don’t know why really. It may because of the mistake someone made at Wendy’s when I ordered a tea and received a Coke instead.

Anyway, even though I’ve started drinking soda again, I never buy soda for the house. I drink it only if I go out to eat. I haven’t purchased cans or bottles of soda for myself in over 3 years. Instead of drinking soda, I rely on water, skim milk, juice, and iced tea as my beverages at home.

Out of those abovementioned drinks, my favorite has got to be this iced greeen tea. I make big quantities of it 1-2 times a week. The recipe is very simple. I’m sure you could use another type of tea, but I love using green tea. You could also use agave syrup, Splenda, or some other sweetener aside from granulated sugar to make it healthier.

Iced Green Tea

8 cups of cold water
1 1/4 – 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar (or Splenda or about 3/4 c of agave syrup)
6-8 bags of green tea (I use Lipton, but I’m sure there are better brands out there. Any suggestions welcomed!)

In a big pot, pour in cold water and sugar. Turn on the heat, and stir the sugar until the water becomes translucent again. Cover the pot of sugar water, and allow the mixture to boil. Meanwhile, place the green tea bags in a large container (with a lid) that can handle hot water and quick temperature changes. Once the water boils, turn off the heat, and immediately pour the sugar water into the large container. Cover the container (with the lid or foil), and allow the tea to sit or steep and cool for 10 minutes. Then place the container in the refrigerator, or pour yourself a glass with a bunch of ice!

Enjoy!

Copyright – Memoria James – http://www.mangiodasola.com