About the recipe

This is a healthy take on the Korean classic, using protein-packed quinoa as a substitute for rice. Quinoa is full of goodness, containing more vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants than any other grain. Its also a complete protein source, providing all nine essential amino acids, and rich in complex carbohydrates, which slowly digest, keeping your blood sugar stable and controlling fat storage. The cool, fresh cucumber is a great contrast to the hot quinoa and is an excellent source of silica, which is known to help joints by strengthening connective tissues. A fried egg is the perfect topping and delivers some more high-quality protein and omega-3 fats. This is one of my favourite dishes to turn into a healthy packed lunch the next day instead of frying eggs, use hardboiled eggs it makes the dish easier to transport.

Steps

• Rinse the quinoa well and cook according to the packet instructions. Drain and set to one side.
• Place the cucumber in a shallow bowl, add the salt, sugar and mirin and leave to pickle for 20 minutes. After this time, squeeze out the excess liquid.
• Cut the tofu into 1cm/½ inch thick slices. Heat the sesame oil in a wok (or pan) and fry the tofu until golden. Season with the soy sauce or tamari. Remove the tofu from the wok and leave to cool. Once cooled, cut into strips.
• For the carrot, heat the rapeseed oil in a wok. Add the carrot strips and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until cooked through. Remove from the wok. Blanch the spinach in a pan of salted boiling water until wilted but still bright green. Drain the spinach, then plunge it into iced water to stop the cooking, drain again, then squeeze out any excess water. Mix in a small bowl with the sesame oil and sesame seeds.

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