Your newest healthy recipe

By Chef Nigel Spence
CJ Contributor

During the Christmas rush, I heard folks in Jamaica were frantically checking their lists and checking them twice, they had to find out if they bought plastic or rice!

Reports were circulating out of the parish of Manchester last month, alleging “fake” rice was being sold to consumers in the area. The “fake” rice is said to be made out of plastic and carefully molded to resemble the real thing.  The plastic rice is blended with real rice to throw unsuspecting folks off track. The origin of the fake rice is alleged to come out of China, where this practice, according to news reports, has been occurring for some time now.

Well, one particular lady was not to be fooled by the apparent switch.  She captured the boiling phenomenon on video and posted the proof to a popular video website for all to see.  It seems she was in the middle of cooking a nice big pot of rice and peas when the tasty dish turned into a pot of rice and “P’s” (pun intended) with what looks like melting plastic stretching thinly from the spoon.

There is no way to know if indeed this was actually fake rice or if the contributor was just a fake herself but as the saying goes in Jamaica “If a nuh so, ah nearly so.” (Meaning: If this isn’t the truth, it is close to the truth). What do you think?

As a result, the Jamaica Customs Agency temporarily ceased the clearance of rice imports until tests could be conducted by the Bureau of Standards to determine the presence of tainted rice.  At this time charges remain unproven as no evidence of plastic or fake rice was found.

What I really wonder about is who has the patience to sit down and design plastic rice? LOL.

Well, just in case you are still leery and looking for a temporary alternative to rice, I urge you to give this healthier alternative a try. I know that my vegan creations have been a bit too much for some carnivores and starch lovers, but with a new year upon us and the vegan movement taking an even stronger foothold this past year, it’s time to embrace this healthier way of eating at least a couple of times a week. This recipe is a great place to begin.

When did the doctor ever mention that you needed more plastic in your diet?

Cauliflower Rice & Peas

There are many recipes out there for this popular rice alternative but after sifting through all the methods I have come to the conclusion along with many bloggers out there that steaming the raw grated cauliflower is the method most closely matching the texture and mouth feel of rice.

The microwave also does an excellent job but I am no fan of microwave ovens. Make no mistake, it is still a stretch of the imagination that you are actually eating rice, but it is so damn healthy why not stretch that thought process as much as you can in the name of cleaner living for the new year?

1 large head Cauliflower

4 T Coconut Oil

1 t sea Salt

1 Cup Red Kidney Beans, cooked

1 T fresh Ginger, juiced or grated

3 T Cilantro, rough chopped

1 sprig Thyme, hard stems removed

1/2 t Scotch bonnet pepper, fine diced

1/2 t Allspice

1/4 Cup Scallions, rough chopped

3 T Coconut milk powder

Pull apart or use a knife to cut cauliflower into small florets. If grating by hand then keep the cauliflower whole.  Grate the cauliflower on a hand grater or pulse in the food processor until small grains appear.

Do not keep your food processor on high, nor try to use a blender as both instances will create cauliflower puree. You may add water to a blender with the cauliflower pieces if using a blender, then strain but the results are a bit watery in the texture and taste.

Put in a bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons of the coconut oil.

Transfer to a fine mesh strainer and place over boiling water without the granules actually touching the water. Steam for 5 minutes. Remove and transfer back to the bowl and immediately stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, salt, beans, cilantro, pepper, thyme, scallions, coconut milk powder and ginger.

Using a generous amount of ginger juice will get you much closer to authenticity!

ENJOY!