Ingredients
* 1/2 cup coconut or brown sugar
* 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
* 1 teaspoon garlic, minced (plus more to taste)
* 3/4 cup vegan “chicken” broth (like Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base)
* 1 1/2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
* 1/2 cup red onion, diced
* 1 red bell pepper, chopped
* 1 (20-ounce) can pineapple tidbits in juice, juices reserved
* 6 to 8 ounces dry soy curls (about 1.5 to 2 cups dry), rehydrated and squeezed dry
* 2 cups curly kale, stemmed and finely chopped
* 4-5 strips vegan bacon, cooked and diced (may try creating your own here)
* Cilantro, chopped, for garnish (optional)
* Green onions or sugar snap peas, sliced, for extra fresh crunch (optional)
Preparations
- Rehydrate: Soak the dry soy curls in warm vegan broth for 10 minutes. Drain, squeeze out all excess liquid using your hands or a towel, and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Prep Kale: Wash, stem, and finely chop 2 cups of kale.
- Prep Toppings: Cook your vegan bacon until crisp, then dice it. Slice your raw sugar snap peas thinly on a diagonal.
Baking Steps
- Preheat: Set your oven to 425°F (218°C) and spray an 11×7-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Mix Sauce: Whisk the sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, and 3/4 cup vegan broth together directly in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine: Stir the uncooked instant white rice, diced onion, chopped bell pepper, pineapple tidbits (with their juice), rehydrated soy curls, and chopped kale into the sauce bowl. Ensure the kale is fully submerged and coated.
- First Bake: Pour everything into the baking dish. Cover it tightly with lid or aluminum foil to trap the steam and bake for 50 minutes.
- Second Bake: Remove the foil and stir the casserole well. Scatter the cooked (or bought) vegan bacon pieces across the top. Bake uncovered for another 10 minutes until the rice is perfectly tender and the top edges of the kale are lightly crisped. [4]
Serving
- Rest: Let the casserole cool and set for 5 minutes out of the oven.
- Garnish: Scatter the raw, sliced sugar snap peas and fresh cilantro across the top right before serving for that final, maximum fresh crunch.