Name: Oven-baked rice with butternut squash, carrot and broccoli
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 500 g basmati rice, uncooked (note: this recipe assumes rice with a cooking time of 15 minutes); 500 g carrots, in 1 cm slices; 1 butternut squash, in 2 cm cubes; 1 broccoli, in florets; 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 2.5 cm fresh ginger, finely chopped; 700 ml coconut milk; 3 tbsp soy sauce, gluten-free; 1 tbsp paprika or chilli powder; 1 tbsp turmeric; 1 tbsp ground cumin; 4 tbsp sesame seeds; Handful of fresh coriander; 1 tbsp sesame oil (dressing); 3 tbsp soy sauce, gluten-free (dressing); 1 tbsp maple syrup (dressing); 0.5 red chilli, finely sliced (dressing)

Method

Heat the ovenSet the oven to 180°C. Grease a large oven dish.
Mix the rice with the sauceMix the uncooked rice with the ginger, garlic, coconut milk, soy sauce and spices in the oven dish.
Cut the vegetables and stir them inCut the carrots into 1 cm slices and the squash into 2 cm cubes. Stir them into the rice.
RoastPut the dish in the oven for about 45 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes so the rice cooks evenly.
Add the broccoliCut the broccoli into florets and add them to the dish after 45 minutes. Return to the oven for about 15 minutes.
Toast the sesame seeds and make the dressingToast the sesame seeds in a dry frying pan. Mix the sesame oil, soy sauce, maple syrup and chilli for the dressing.
ServeTake the dish out of the oven, stir the dressing through and sprinkle the sesame seeds on top. Garnish with fresh coriander.

Serving tips

Variation: add a tablespoon of red curry paste for extra heat and depth.
Other vegetables: courgette, sweet potato or cauliflower also work well.
Gluten-free: use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
Delicious with coconut yoghurt or a fresh cucumber salad, grilled tofu or tempeh for extra protein, or extra coriander and lime juice when serving.

About this recipe

This dish may not look very appetising while you prepare it, but don’t be fooled. When it comes out of the oven, the house smells of coconut and spices and it turns out to be a really flavourful dish. That is exactly what makes it fun. It may look strange when raw: trust the process.

Pre-order my cookbook now!

Ready to cook healthy food in a simple, affordable and natural way? My cookbook "Health" is now available for pre-order. It helps you put delicious dishes on the table without ready-made mixes and packets, using pure ingredients and simple methods.