Healthy Quinoa Japanese Donburi Bowl #SundaySupper

Do specific foods contain magic powers? New Year’s Day in Japan brings feasts of osechi ryori: Layers of lacquered bento boxes filled with foods promise good fortune and longevity.  Inspired by the Japanese New Year feast and Southern Living’s promise that black-eyed beans will bring prosperity, I created a healthy quinoa Japanese donburi bowl. (Donburi in Japanese basically means a bowl of rice topped with “fixings.” Instead of sticky white Japanese rice, I substituted quinoa.) Most everyone at the beginning of the year is determined to realize dreams of healthy bodies and rich bank accounts, right?

To ensure riches are yours I packed the healthy quinoa with Japanese chestnuts. The golden nuts are symbols of gold coins. Black-eyed peas were also added. The beans swell as they cook. Southerners in America swear black-eyed peas are a necessity on New Year’s Day if you want your bank account to expand.

Quinoa was a conscious choice. As much as I love Japanese white rice, quinoa is brimming with protein, iron, fiber and B2. Quinoa is super-duper good for you. It’s a healthy choice…. And allows more carbs at dessert! (I’m not even going to try to make a New Year resolution about curbing sweets.)Schedule

Japanese dai-dai oranges are bitter and not eaten raw. However, the oranges are central to Japanese New Year decorations. The dai-dai oranges symbolize a continuation of family. (Dai means generation in Japanese. So, dai-dai is read as generation to generation.) As a nod to my husband’s master-baker-mother, I sprinkled in sweet oranges. (Click here for the magical story and recipe of Betty’s - orange infused - Cranberry Bread.) 

Schedule

Schedule

Schedule