Sweet and sour veggies and rice - Vegan, Vegetarian, GF, Soy Free

This is one of those meals that I cannot get enough of! I am not sure if any of you have ever eaten at Pei Wei, but they are delicious! My favorite dish there is the sweet and sour tofu and veggies. I love it so much I've been on a mission to recreate it. Here is my closest attempt.  

Here is what you will need: 

cooked rice (about a 1/2c to 1c for each person eating)

6 tbsp red wine vinegar

6 tbsp orange juice

6 tbsp sugar

3 tbsp ketchup 

1 tea corn starch 

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 red onion - minced

2 c pineapple chunks

3 garlic cloves - minced

1 tbsp grated ginger

2 scallions - sliced thin

3 carrots - sliced thin

2 bunches broccoli 

1 handful snow peas

1 handful sugar snap peas

1 red bell pepper  - chopped into large chunks

you can also add any other veggies, or tofu, that you want. 

mo veggies, mo better

Here is how you do it:

Whisk the vinegar, OJ, sugar, ketchup, and cornstarch together in a bowl. 

Heat the oil in a large skillet

Once it is hot* add the onion and cook until soft and slightly brown.

Add the pineapple* and cook for 1 min

Next add garlic and ginger and cook until you can smell it, or about 20 secs.

Garlic cooking is one of my favorite smells!

re-whisk the vinegar mix, and pour it into the skillet. 

Add all your veggies in the pan, stir, cover and cook for 5 mins (if you want the veggies to be softer, then cook for longer, I like mine with some crunch to them)

If you want the sauce thinner you can add water 1/4 cup at a time until you get your desired consistency.

Serve the rice on plates or bowls, then spoon the sweet and sour veggies over the rice.

Top with the scallions, and enjoy!

Yes there is some sugar and ketchup, but other than those this dish is plant based and very healthy! So pig out my friend! You will not regret it the morning

 (unless you ate the whole dish, then you will wish you had more). 

Happy eats!

Love

Beka Oakley

*How can you tell if the oil in your skillet is hot enough to start cooking? I do one of two things: splash a drop of water in the skillet, if the oil freaks out, it is hot enough. Or throw in one kernel of pop corn. If it pops immediately, then the oil is hot enough.

*If you are using canned pineapple DO NOT drain the juice. Add it to the skillet. YUM!