Vegetables and Rice with Pumpkin Seed Sauce
Pumpkin seeds are used as a flavorful thickener in Mexican sauces. If you cant find them, simply substitute walnuts. Chayote is a smooth, pale green vegetable that can be replaced by yellow squash, if necessary.
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Pumpkin seeds are used as a flavorful thickener in Mexican sauces. If you cant find them, simply substitute walnuts. Chayote is a smooth, pale green vegetable that can be replaced by yellow squash, if necessary.
Ingredients
Pumpkin seed sauce
- 2/3 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 12 green onions, sliced (about 1 cup)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (about 4 tsp.)
- 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
- 1 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
Vegetables and rice
- 2 cups short-grain brown rice
- 2 tsp. olive oil
- 3 medium-size chayote, thinly sliced
- 2 medium-size zucchini, thinly sliced
Preparation
1. To make Sauce: Toast pumpkin seeds 3 to 5 minutes in skillet over medium heat, shaking pan often.
2. Add oil to skillet. Add green onions and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes, or until soft.
3. Purée lettuce, broth, cilantro, pumpkin seeds and 1/2 cup green onion mixture in food processor until smooth. Transfer to saucepan, and simmer 15 minutes over medium heat. Stir in lime juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. To make Vegetables and Rice: Cook rice according package directions. Warm oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add chayote and zucchini, and cook 15 minutes, stirring often, or until soft and beginning to brown. Add remaining green onion mixture, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
5. To serve: Divide rice among 6 bowls. Top with vegetables and sauce.
Nutrition Information
- Calories 444
- Carbohydrate Content 65 g
- Cholesterol Content 0 mg
- Fat Content 14 g
- Fiber Content 7 g
- Protein Content 17 g
- Saturated Fat Content 2 g
- Sodium Content 308 mg
- Sugar Content 3 g