Meatless Monday with Vegetarian Rice from the Drake Hotel

Hello and welcome (back) to the Miratel blog for another Meatless Monday. We took the Meatless Monday pledge as part of our CSR business initiatives in support of reducing meat consumption by 15% to improve the health of people and the planet. Every Monday we share a different vegetarian recipe and try to keep them as simple and do-able as possible.

Today’s recipe is from the iconic Drake Hotel, a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Toronto. Coinciding with the launch of the Toronto International Film Festival, the Drake Hotel transformed its dining room into a pop-up 1940’s LA-styled Chinatown complete with reinvented dishes. The Drake Chinatown menu will be available until November 19th and will feature (among many other offerings), today’s amazing Vegetarian Rice.

Image of The Drake exterior courtesy of egodesign.ca

Ingredients – serves 4

• 2 tbsp (30 mL) each: hoisin sauce, tamari
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) sesame oil
• 1 cup (250 mL) chopped bok choy
• 1 cup (250 mL) chopped Chinese broccoli with stems
• 1 tsp (5 mL) + 3 tbsp (45 mL) olive oil
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 cup (250 mL) thinly sliced shiitake mushroom caps
• Coarse kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) each: minced garlic, minced fresh ginger
• 1 tsp (5 mL) red chili flakes or minced red Thai bird’s eye chilies, or to taste
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) roasted, red-skinned peanuts (preferably salted)
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) finely chopped, drained pickled ginger (white or pink)
• 2 tbsp (30 mL) butter, cut in pieces
• 2 cups (500 mL) cold cooked jasmine rice
• 3 tbsp (45 mL) thinly sliced on diagonal green onions
• In small bowl, whisk hoisin, tamari and sesame oil.

Directions

1. Bring medium saucepan of water to boil over high heat. Add bok choy and Chinese broccoli. Blanch 30 seconds. Drain, rinsing greens with cold, running water. Squeeze out excess water.
2. Heat large skillet or wok over medium. Add 1 tsp (5 mL) olive oil. Add egg, tilting pan to make large, thin crêpe. Cook on one side until just cooked through. Transfer to cutting board; chop into thin shreds.
3. Add 2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil to skillet over medium-high heat. Add shiitakes. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl.
4. Add remaining 1 tbsp (15 mL) olive oil, garlic, fresh ginger and chili flakes or fresh chilies to skillet or wok set over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until soft and fragrant without browning, about 2 minutes. Raise heat to medium high. Add bok choy and Chinese broccoli. Cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add shiitakes. Cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add peanuts and pickled ginger. Cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Raise heat to high. Dot pan with butter. Add rice. Let sizzle about 1 minute before stirring gently, breaking up rice with wooden spoon. Cook, letting rice get browned and crunchy in places, until rice is hot.
5. Transfer to platter. Sprinkle with eggs and green onions. Drizzle with hoisin mixture.

The Drake’s vegetarian fried rice image courtesy of Steve Russell/Toronto Star (click on image to enlarge)

The number of ingredients may seem daunting but it comes together fairly quick and the taste makes it well worth the time. To make it vegan, omit the egg and substitute the butter with your favourite vegan option.

We encourage you to visit the Meatless Monday website and join us in taking the pledge to reduce meat consumption one day per week. It’s easy with simple and delicious recipes like this one. Spread the word at work to promote the value of CSR business initiatives and make your green call centre, office, factory, shop, restaurant, hotel or salon even greener.

Check out the Drake Hotel any chance you get whether it’s for the night, a meal, a drink or a show. Enjoy!

For nonprofit, CSR business, digital and other news,please connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin or subscribe to our RSS feed.
________________________________________________________________________________________

Miratel Solutions is a Toronto call centre, eBusiness, and letter shop mail house specializing in professional fundraising services including telephone fundraising, online fundraising, lottery services, donation caging, donation processing and other donor management services. We are committed to our CSR business values and advancing the missions of the non-profits we proudly serve.