By Produce Buyer, Nailah Griffin
Culturally, my gastronomic upbringing was in Caribbean and Southern fare, both of which can be very meat-centric cuisines. However, when I was about 10 years old, my mom decided to become a veggie-focused pescatrian, totally shifting the eating habits of our household. As a result, we learned newer, better ways to eat our favorite dishes sans meat. In honor of “Eat Your Vegetables” Day, and parents everywhere struggling to get their kids to eat veggies, I present a few of my childhood favorites!
Red Cabbage Coleslaw with Green Apples
1 ½ cup of shredded purple cabbage
1 large crisp green apple, thinly sliced
1 medium carrot, grated
½ medium red onion, diced
¼ cup mayo
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
½ lemon
2 tsp honey
Salt/Pepper to taste
In a bowl, mix mayo, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt and pepper, and squeeze the lemon halve. Whisk until smooth. In another bowl, combine all the cabbage, apple, carrot, and onion. Pour sauce over the veggies and toss until evenly coated. Enjoy.
Bajan Style Rice
2 cups rice
6 cups water
1 vegetable bouillon cube
1 tbsp thyme
1 tbsp marjoram
1 tbsp chive, dried or freshly chopped
1 large tomato, diced
1 medium onion (or ½ large onion), diced
Boil the vegetable bouillon, diced onion, herbs, in 4 cups of water for about 15-20 minutes.
Then, add the rice, diced tomatoes and remaining water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender
5 Spice Tofu Stir Fry
1 package firm tofu, cubed
2 heads of broccoli, chopped
½ red pepper, diced
½ green pepper, diced
½ cup yellow onion, diced
2 cups of spinach
1 medium sized zucchini, diced
5 spice blend
Olive Oil, as desired
In a bowl, season diced firm tofu with 5 spice blend and set aside. In a skillet, heat about 2 tbsp of oil and, once hot, add the onions and peppers. Cook until onions are translucent, then add broccoli and cook for about 7 minutes. Next, stir in the zucchini and the tofu. Cook until all vegetables are bright but haven’t lost their crunch and then add in spinach. Lower the heat and cover the skillet, allowing it to sit for about 2-3 minutes. Remove top and stir until spinach is evenly dispersed.
