Garden Harvest Jeweled Rice Recipe

+ the female presidents of UPenn, Harvard and MIT on Dec 5th

Are we sick of potato latkes yet? Although I am not exactly tired of latkes, I thought it would be helpful to share a rice recipe this week for variety and pleasure.

Moral Courage + Female Leadership

Before we comfort ourselves with food, I want to take a moment to write about the December 5th 2023, House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing on antisemitism. We all watched three female university presidents navigate a simple yet critical question. When asked whether they would take disciplinary action against students advocating for the genocide of Jews, their responses were meticulously crafted around the complexities of free speech. The presidents fell short of seizing the political moment by failing to unequivocally denounce antisemitism, demonstrating a moment of moral cowardice.

Legal precision does not always align with moral righteousness. In Nazi Germany, the adherence to legal frameworks (i.e. The Nuremberg Laws, etc.) was exploited to perpetrate atrocities that were morally reprehensible. The comparison to Nazi Germany underscores the idea that simply following the letter of the law does not absolve individuals or leaders of the moral responsibility to act ethically. In the context of the congressional hearing, the emphasis on legal correctness in handling free speech issues should not have overshadowed the moral imperative to denounce and combat antisemitism forcefully.

This incident was an absolute failure to address antisemitism and it also marked a disheartening setback for the aspiration of women in leadership. The prevailing belief that empowering women in leadership roles benefits everyone was challenged as these female university presidents missed an opportunity to embody clear, forceful moral courage. Contrary to the decades of studies highlighting the positive impacts of women in leadership, this instance became a poignant reminder that effective leadership goes beyond legal precision, requiring a resolute commitment to moral clarity. The incident not only left the Jewish community horrified and shocked but also cast a dark shadow on the broader dream of realizing the potential of female leadership.

Back to Food Talk

Picture this: warm rice mingling with a colorful crew of raw or lightly steamed veggies, dried fruits, edamame, and nuts. It's like a jeweled garden on our plates. This recipe is from "Kosher Macros: 63 Recipes for Eating Everything (Kosher) for Physical Health and Emotional Balance." Yeah, it's a bit of a mouthful, but so is this dish! . 

This recipe embodies the essence of mindful macros eating. With fewer carbohydrates and fats compared to traditional jeweled rice dishes, the focus shifts towards achieving equilibrium in macronutrient intake while preserving the rich, satisfying taste.

Typical jeweled rice recipes can tip the scale with high carbohydrate and fat content. This recipe, however, adheres to the principles of macro-friendly eating. Emphasizing portion control and the inclusion of diverse, nutrient-dense ingredients, the recipe demonstrates that indulgence need not compromise nutritional balance. The overarching philosophy here is not to eliminate grains or excessively restrict carbohydrates but to savor them in thoughtful proportions alongside proteins and fats, promoting a holistic approach to healthy and enjoyable eating.

This brown basmati rice recipe adds the following raw or lightly steamed vegetables: carrot, red pepper, yellow pepper, purple cabbage and sliced green onions.  It also calls for edamame, toasted pine nuts and dried cranberries.  It's possible to keep all the ratios and change the ingredients to vegetables you prefer, another toasted nut and a different dried fruit.  The options are endless. 

Simple to prepare but with  a stunning visual appeal, this dish is an ideal choice for both everyday and special holidays. 

Variations:

• Instead of raw vegetables, lightly steam the vegetables. 

• Use any dried fruits or nuts you have on hand for various flavor variations: pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, dried figs, dried cherries, dried apricots or raisins. 

• Replace the rice with quinoa or millet for extra protein and a different texture.

• Replace the edamame with peas.

• Use walnut oil, coconut oil or real butter instead of vegan butter spread.

Garden Harvest Jeweled Rice Recipe

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 cup (165g) cooked brown basmati rice 

1 tsp (5g) vegan butter spread 

1 cup (170g) grated carrot

½ cup (46g) thinly sliced yellow pepper

½ cup (46g) thinly sliced orange pepper

½ cup (32g) thinly sliced purple cabbage

1 cup (160g) edamame

½ cup (52g) of sliced green onion, green + white parts  (or more to taste) 

½ oz (14g) dried cranberries, chopped small

1 oz (28g) almonds, roughly chopped and toasted 

1 tsp lemon zest

Salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions:

1. Add the sliced vegetables, edamame, cranberries and lemon zest to a large salad bowl.

2. Toast the almonds in a skillet and set aside. 

3. Cook rice according to package directions. 

4. Place cooked rice in a prep bowl and combine with butter. 

5. Fold rice into a salad bowl with other ingredients.

6. Scatter the toasted almonds on top. 

7. Serve immediately. 

Nutritional Information For 4 servings

Serving size: ¼ of the recipe

Calories per serving: 162

Macros:

Carbohydrates: 23.6g

Fiber: 5g

Protein: 5.6g

Fat: 5.5g

Tools:

• Cutting board

• Large salad bowl

• Measuring cups and spoons

• Medium mixing bowl

• Sharp knife

• Saucepan 

• Skillet

• Wooden spoon or silicone spatula 

Happy 7th night of Hanukkah!

Kenden