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Brown Rice Salad with Pan-fried Chickpeas and Kale and Hunger Challenge Day 3 Recap

22 April 2009 14 Comments

Third day on the hunger challenge and I am beginning to appreciate the cause more and more with each passing day. We both worked pretty late today and normally after a late night like that, we just get some take-out without thinking twice about it. Wednesday - Hunger Challenge Obviously that wasn’t an option today, we had to come home and make dinner. I was so worn out that I could’ve just eaten some bread and crashed. But I wanted to do this right; my whole intention for this challenge was to share some fun and healthy low-cost recipes. So I forced myself to prepare a proper dinner. The only comfort was the thought that it is just for this one week, next week we will be back to the old schedule.

But I couldn’t help thinking about those who don’t have that option to pick up some take-out after a tiring day. If you were really forced to live on $7 a day, you’d certainly have to fix a meal at home. It can be a tiring chore. I understand now why people turn to canned soups and Ramen. If you are pressed for time and money, there aren’t many easy choices available. My heart goes out to those who live this challenge every day!

Coming to the daily recap, our tally for the day is $11.75. It is cutting very close to the $12 mark, but we have more than enough left overs for lunch tomorrow, and possibly enough for at least one person’s dinner as well. I will share the chicken curry recipe tomorrow, it is less than $1 per serving, it is a really good option for people on a budget.

Recipe I am sharing today is last night’s dinner – Brown-rice salad with pan-friend Chickpeas and Kale with some avocado slices for some added nutrition. Along with some lemony-yogurt dressing, this was a simple and eloquent dinner and cost only less than $2 per serving.

This one is an extension of the Chickpeas and Kale Stir Fry recipe I posted a while ago. I am absolutely in love with the Kale-Chickpea-lime taste combination, that I make this dish very often.

Brown-rice salad with pan-friend Chickpeas and Kale

Brown Rice Salad with Chickpeas and Kale

Ingredients

(Makes 2 servings)

Chickpeas, cooked – 1 can
Kale – 1/4lb
Lime – 1
Tomato, diced – 1
Cilantro – 1 tbsp
Avocado, cubed – 3/4
Coriander powder – 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder – 1/2 tsp
Onions, diced – 1/4 cup
Garlic – 2 cloves
Oil – 1 tbsp
Yogurt – 2 tbsp
Cooked and cooled Brown Rice – 1/2 cup

Method

Drain and rinse the chickpeas. In a large non-stick pan, heat the olive oil and saute the onions and garlic till soft. Add the red chili and coriander powders and saute for a minute or so. Add salt and the chickpeas and saute till the chickpeas turn golden and crusty, about 8-10 minutes. Add the kale and saute for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add juice from 1/2 of the lime. Stir in the cooked and cooled brown rice and mix well. Remove from the heat.

To make the dressing, Add some red pepper flakes and the juice from the remaining half of the line and salt into the yogurt and mix well to combine.

Place the salad in a bowl, top with tomato and avocado slices and spoon the yogurt dressing over. This one is really really limey, if you don’t like that strong lime taste, feel free to reduce the amount of lime juice in the dressing.

For more information about Hunger Action Week and for the Wednesday Hunger Challenge round-up, check out the UWKC blog http://uwkc.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/wednesday-blog-round-up/

You might also want to check-out the other Hunger Challenge participant blogs:

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14 Comments »

Raaga said:

This is great. Doubt we get Kale here… could try other greens I guess

# 22 April 2009 at 11:12 pm

Miri said:

Kudos for your persistence even in the face of being so tired! I can just imagine how hard it must have been to stay away from take away.

The salad looks really fresh and so interesting!

# 23 April 2009 at 12:17 am

sra said:

Lot of different bits in the salad. It looks good. I should really make a rice salad once to see how it tastes – I’ve only had it once.

# 23 April 2009 at 12:40 am

Happy Cook said:

Love the salade, really wholesome meal.

# 23 April 2009 at 2:52 am

Soma said:

This is one great salad! Will make this for sure.

It is hard to eat cheap, & healthy. most eating cheap & not wanting to cook, pick up all unhealthy fast food. This is extra work to come back pooped & to fix a meal, but u did a great quick fix here.

# 23 April 2009 at 4:12 am

indosungod said:

Sig, eat healthy is not easy. Going to a fast food restaurant and eating at that price is the only option left sometimes.

You are doing a great job here. The time pressure makes it real.

# 23 April 2009 at 4:21 am

Deesha said:

That looks soo good. I’ve never had a rice salad .. must try it sometime

# 23 April 2009 at 6:08 am

archana, mama of twins said:

Sig, you are doing a great job woman!! I don’t know if I can manage this type of rigorous counting! You are so disciplined. Kudos.

I tried your chickpea/kale recipe a while ago but this rice bowl looks even better! A weight watcher’s dream come true.

# 23 April 2009 at 7:36 am

Shreya said:

Amazing, Sig! This is so healthy, love the colours. Keep it up:-)

# 23 April 2009 at 8:17 am

Marissa said:

Oh, I love cilantro!

# 23 April 2009 at 8:28 am

SuperChef said:

i hear ya, exactly my sentiments!!!

i have some kale growing in my container garden..love this recipe..will try this once the challenge is done!!

# 23 April 2009 at 11:31 am

Thursday Blog Round-up! « said:

[...] 3 – pasta, a reliable friend from Fishes + Loaves Day 3: Hunger Action Week from Julie Jams Brown Rice Salad with Pan-fried Chickpeas and Kale and Hunger Challenge Day 3 Recap from Live to [...]

# 23 April 2009 at 6:04 pm