Hawaiian Stir Fry

In my search for a Hawaiian themed meal, I came across a recipe for "Coconut Rice with Tofu Pillows."  It looked amazing, however, it just wasn't quite enough of that tropical goodness I was seeking.  Something with pineapples, sweet teriyaki sauce, and lots of veggies would satisfy my craving.  I decided to amp up the rice and put it all together: coconut brown rice with veggies, tofu, and pineapples, stir fried in a simple homemade teriyaki sauce.  "So 'ono brah!"

Coconut Rice
Ingredients:

• 1 cup long grain brown rice
• 2 1/4 cups water
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1 Tbs vegetable oil
• dash of salt

**Fun Fact: Less atmospheric pressure = lower boiling point... Basically, at higher altitudes where the air is thin, water boils at a lower temperature.  What that means for our rice? We add more water, and cook rice a few minutes longer! For sea level cooking, remove up to 1/4 cup water from rice recipe**

Directions:

• Add water, oil, & salt to a sauce pot and bring to a boil
• Add rice, reduce heat to low & cover
• Simmer for 35- 40 minutes before adding coconut & coconut milk
• Simmer an additional 10 minutes (or until all liquid is absorbed)
• Let sit, covered, for 5 minutes before serving & adding veggies

 Teriyaki Stir Fry*
Ingredients:

• 2-3 Tbs brown sugar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 Tbs vegetable oil

• 1/2 package extra firm tofu -drained & cut into 1/2" cubes
• 1 cup chopped peppers -I used red and green
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped pineapple

Directions:

• Add brown sugar, soy sauce, & oil to frying pan on med-med/high heat, stirring to combine ingredients
• Once sauce begins to bubble, add peppers, pineapple, broccoli, carrots, & tofu
• Cook for about 15- 20 minutes (if you like crunchy veggies cook 10-15 minutes)
• Stir or toss occasionally to cover everything with sauce

*begin stir fry 5-10 minutes prior to adding coconut & coconut milk to rice so that everything finishes around the same time.  If the rice sits and waits for the veggies thats ok but avoid starting the stir fry too early, resulting in soggy veggies!
 

To serve: Toss some rice onto plates or into bowls and top with a generous amount of veggies,pineapple, and tofu. Enjoy!

Note: this recipe makes about 4 servings, so invite your friends over for a Luau!