Tonight’s speedy, kick ass dinner was inspired by the Winter 2013 edition of Menu magazine.
Namely, Roasted Dashi Eggplant, Dashi Mushrooms and Baby Bok Choy with Garlic Sauce.
Except I went all Three Muskateers on those recipes and tweaked them to make one vegtabulous dinner.
This came together very quickly, which was especially helpful as I was feeling so hungry my stomach was starting to eat itself.
Pulled from the fridge and cupboards:
2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil (olive oil would work too!)
1 Eggplant, peeled and sliced, slices cut into quarters
8 – 10 cremini mushrooms, stems removed, washed and quartered
5 heads of baby bok choy
1 inch of ginger, grated
Tamari, garlic powder and salt to taste
All ingredients ready?
Oven! GO! 375! Start peeling that eggplant! CHOP CHOP!
(Notice I still had time to take pictures?)
Eggplant coated in a little coconut oil, roasted for 10 minutes, flipped and then roasted for an additional 8 – 10 minutes, per the Dashi Eggplant instructions above.
Once the eggplant was in the oven, it was time to get busy on the stove top.
Cremini mushrooms – washed, quartered and the first of a few vegetables to get started in a coconut oil saute,
while five little heads of baby bok choy got their hair washed, styled and permed.
Look carefully. Can you predict where that boy choy is headed next?
You win!
Get out the tamari (or your sauce of choice)
With a few drollops (new word) of tamari, a tablespoon or so of grated ginger and some scallions, we’re almost there.
Check on that eggplant!
Flipped at the 10 minute mark, a little tamari splashed in with some garlic powder, back in the oven for 8 – 10 minutes while the veggies up top finished cooking.
Veggie Delight on a Friday night. Ready in less than 25 minutes.
For what this dish lacked in protein (major fail) it totally made up for with loads of flavor. Not to mention a number of different vegetables which is of course good for your guts.
Did I mention there was wine?
Cabernet, to be exact. It is Friday night after all.
(Do you see Ava sliding in there with her kiddie wine glass and the container of almond milk? I could be up for Parental Role Model of the Year.)
Ah well. Five plants foods, dinner for two grownups, all for one, and one for all. Or something like that.
Dinner looked mouth-watering, but what really made it water was that enamel clad cast iron pan. That’s next on my “Honey-please-buy-this-for-me” list.
We’ve had it for two weeks now, I. Love. It. You will too! Good thing Valentine’s Day is right around the corner… nothing says “I’ll Love You Forever” like an enamel coated cast iron dutch oven!