If you haven’t watched it already, Queer Eye is a Netflix series where 4 guys and a person AKA the Fab Five go around solving people’s life problems. In each episode, they coach someone who is stuck in their life, move on and thrive. Each of the Fab Five specializes in different life topics that the writers of the show believe you need to optimize in order discover your bliss.
What are the life topics? You need to have a beautiful cut hair and updated flattering clothes, which help to increase your self confidence. A home makeover, designed to reflect your personality and lifestyle. How eat better and to cook something delicious. Lastly and the most important aspect, to find clarity in your mental health. They bring joy and laughter through kindness and affirmations by basically being their fun and loving selves.
It is a dream makeover. Oozing with empathy and compassion, while cheering everyone on.
They presented this easy and delicious plant based recipe that I actually made.
It is from the episode “The Anxious Activist”.
WARNING. This recipe is very high in sodium. If you have a medical condition that requires you to limit your daily salt intake, this recipe is NOT for you. Although you could skip the step where the eggplant is sprinkled with salt. But it will taste different and have a different texture. I have not tried it this way.
Ingredients:
Brown Rice, Vegetable broth, Lentils, Eggplant, Salt, Onions, Garlic, Bay leaf, cooking oil like Avocado or Almond
1 1/2 cups of dry brown rice to be cooked in vegetable broth (buy rice grown in California, organic preferred. Rice from other parts of USA have been found to be higher in arsenic. If concerned, soak brown rice over night in water or see below. Throw out that water and rinse rice well. Might help remove some of the arsenic).
1 cup dried brown lentils, rinsed. Put four cups of water into a pot. Add lentils and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Then reduce to a very low simmer, cover and set your timer for 20-25 minutes. Drain.
1 medium to large eggplant, sliced thinly (like 1/16-1/8 inch). Sprinkle both sides of eggplant slices with salt and let weep for 30 mins, then rinse and dry to remove salt. Note, I just swipe off salt and water with a paper towel. This gives the eggplant a real salt punch, which I like but it does add a lot of salt to the dish. How much salt you can consume is between you and your doctor. Heat some oil in frying pan and fry eggplant until brown. Cut eggplant into 1/2 inch pieces.
2 sweet onions– cut in half and slice thinly
Garlic minced, as much or as little as you like
Pan fry onions, garlic with oil until very brown (if you want stronger garlic taste, use fresh and mix in at the end of frying).
Mixed the above cooked ingredients together. Serve hot with a side salad.
Please leave any comments or questions. Look forward to them.
Side Note about Arsenic in grains:
Reminds me of Jonathan.
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/01/how-much-arsenic-is-in-your-rice/index.htm
https://www.netflix.com/watch/81149795?trackId=200257859 at 27 minutes
Blogging about What It Takes to be Healthy 