Harissa Veggies and Rice Skillet

As it is written, this recipe is quite mild, despite the harissa. You can adjust its quantity to taste for spicier results. This delicious, ready-in-a-snap rice would be perfect served alongside your favorite bean recipe. The benefit of adding beans is that your meal would now be turned into a filling, complete protein, in one fell swoop.

YIELD: 4 side servings

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) toasted sesame oil
• 5 tablespoons (50 g) minced shallot
• 1 tablespoon (10 g) minced garlic
• 1 bell pepper (any color), seeded and chopped
• Fine sea salt, to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons (4 g) dry harissa blend or paste, to taste
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup (164 g) frozen corn kernels, rinsed to thaw slightly
• 3/4 cup (188 g) chopped tomato with juice (such as Pomi)
• 1 tablespoon (8 g) nutritional yeast
• 2 slightly heaping cups (420 g) cooked and chilled brown rice of choice
• Fresh cilantro or parsley leaves, for garnish
• Lemon wedges, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place the oil, shallot, garlic, and bell pepper in a large skillet. Heat on medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables just start to soften, about 4 minutes.
2. Add salt to taste, cumin, and harissa. Sauté for another minute.
3. Add the lemon juice and corn, folding to combine. Sauté for another minute.
4. Add the tomatoes, nutritional yeast, and rice. Cook uncovered on medium-low heat for 8 minutes until heated through and to let the flavors meld.
5. Adjust seasoning, if needed. Garnish with fresh herbs of choice and lemon wedges.

TIPS:

• Customizable spiciness: Feel free to adjust the amount of harissa according to your spice preference. If you enjoy extra heat, add more harissa, or reduce it for a milder version.
• Bean addition: Turn this dish into a complete protein meal by adding your favorite beans. Chickpeas, black beans, or kidney beans work well with the harissa flavors.
• Make it gluten-free: Ensure that the harissa blend or paste used is gluten-free to keep the dish entirely gluten-free.
• Serve with protein: As suggested in the intro, serving this dish alongside a protein-rich bean recipe will make it a more filling and balanced meal.
• Experiment with veggies: Don’t hesitate to add or substitute other vegetables to suit your taste. Zucchini, carrots, or peas could be delightful additions.
• Meal prep tip: Cook and chill the brown rice in advance to make this recipe even quicker and ideal for busy weeknights.
• Leftover use: Any leftover Harissa Veggies and Rice can be enjoyed as a tasty lunch the next day or repurposed into a wrap or bowl with your choice of toppings.

Serve it as a side dish alongside your favorite protein or turn it into a complete and filling meal by adding your choice of beans. The mango salsa from the previous recipe (Dirty Rice Bites with Mango Salsa) would pair wonderfully with this skillet, adding a refreshing twist to the dish.

This flavorful skillet is perfect for meal prep as well. Cook and chill the brown rice in advance, so you can whip up this dish in no time on busy days. Leftovers can be enjoyed for lunch or creatively repurposed into wraps or bowls with your favorite toppings.