Harmonizing Bowl of Summer Veggies & black Rice
Black rice is considered a specialty rice. It's popular in Indonesia and Philippines and has a nutty flavour. Historically, in Ancient China, black rice was considered a luxury reserved for the upper class. Its rarity and deep purple color (after cooked) earned the name “forbidden rice.” Over time, it gained recognition for its exceptional nutritional profile, becoming a sought-after health-conscious food choice.According to TCM, each element corresponds to specific aspects, including color. The Water element is associated with the Kidneys, which connect to the color black. Consuming black-colored foods is believed to strengthen and protect the Kidneys, responsible for health, vitality, growth, and sexual well-being.Tradicional Uses:- Spleen Nourishment: TCM uses black rice to nourish the Spleen: helps regulate appetite.- Liver and Kidney Strengthening: It supports Liver and Kidney function: It improves vision and blood circulation.TCM Benefits
Harmonizes digestion
Reduces dampness
Clears heat
Eliminates toxins
Promotes qi circulation
Nutricional Properties and Benefits
Contains Vitamins: A, B1,B2, B3, B6, C, D, E, K.
Contains Minerals: Calcium, Cobalt, Potassium, Folate, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Selenium.
Source of Beta-carotene.
Balances blood sugar
Supports weight loss
Black brown rice is a source of all essential amino acids
Source of omega-6
Promotes healthy brain function
Helps to reduce inflammation.
Antioxidant-anthocynanin reduces cardiovascular diseases.
TCM Flavour: Sweet, Sour
Energetics/TCM Thermal Nature: Neutral
Organ-Meridian: Stomach, Spleen, Liver, Lungs
Season: Late-Summer, Fall
Total Time: 35 minutes
Serves: 2
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Meal Type: Mains
Ingredients:
1 cup of black rice
1 sweet onion
1 medium carrot
10 cherry tomatos
1 yellow zucchini
2 big white mushrooms
1 hand of fresh basil
olive oil (enough to cover all the vegetables)
2 TBsp of tamari
1 tsp of black olive paste (tapenade)
pinch of sea salt
pinch of black pepper
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 190ºC, fan setting.
Chop all vegetables and fresh basil into slightly thin slices.
Place the vegetables onto a large baking tray and add the olive oil, tamari, sea salt and black pepper - make sure there’s plenty of space so they’re not sitting on top of each other.
Roast for 25 minutes, stirring once or twice in this time. (Depending on the oven you might need to readjust the time - make sure the vegetables are roasted).
While the vegetables are in the oven cook the black rice according to package.
Remove the tray from the oven. Add the black olive paste and stir. Make sure that well seasoned.
In a bowl mix the vegetables and the black rice. Add a pinch of black pepper.
Themes and Variations
If you don’t have black rice you can swap for brown rice.
Tomato contains oxalic acid (caution in case of kidney stones!)
Especially Good For
Anyone with poor appetite and a difficult digestion. If you have stomach ulcers remove the tomato.