(Note: this post was originally published on December 17, 2022. It has since been updated with a few tweaks.)
If you're looking for a meal that's easy to make but is also packed with flavor and exceptionally beautiful, then I have the recipe for you. This colorful vegan rice bowl features a rainbow of raw vegetables, succulent mango, and a sweet/spicy mango sauce. It's high in fiber and loaded with an array of plant-based nutrients, plus it has a unique combination of flavors, textures, and colors that you'll want to come back to again and again.
This spicy mango rice bowl celebrates a special ingredient: Korean rice. Below, I'll explore the diverse nutritional benefits of Korean rice (hint: it's not just for eating).
The idea to focus on Korean rice came from an innovative Korean brand: I'm From. They make natural vegan skin care products, many of which have culinary ingredients at their cores. Their skin care lines focus on ingredients such as figs, ginseng, pears, and even rice. Although I'll be using Korean rice in a culinary application, I'm From has a whole skin care line formulated from rice water.
I love learning about powerful foods, so I was excited to hear more about Korean rice. The rice itself, and hence the water derived from soaking the rice, has many health benefits. We can of course eat the rice (like in this tasty vegan rice bowl!), but the water can be used to nourish our skin. In fact, rice water has been used in Korea as a skin care product for generations.
Korean rice (and hence the water derived from it) contains many important nutrients. It's rich in amino acids, antioxidants, and minerals, making it an all-around nutritional winner. For skin care specifically, it has traditionally been used to cleanse the skin, reduce oiliness, and treat acne. Its high Vitamin B concentrations make it a great agent for brightening and evening skin tone. Likewise, its high dietary fiber (also a nutritional winner!) make it useful for removing dead cells and creating clearer skin. It can boost natural collagen production, keeping the skin elastic and healthy, and may even treat sun damage.
This spicy mango rice bowl is easy to make since there's no cooking involved other than the rice. The star is a unique savory mango sauce, which you'll use in two different ways. You'll make the sauce and use half of it to marinate the veggies; you'll then thicken the remaining sauce with some coconut cream and drizzle it over the final bowl. The end result is a bright, vibrant dish loaded with diverse textures and flavors.
Given that the spicy mango sauce is acidic thanks to the mango and the lime juice, it works as a great tenderizing agent for raw veggies. In this vegan rice bowl recipe, you'll cut the cabbage and carrots into thin ribbons, then let them sit in the marinade while the rice cooks. Just 20-30 minutes in the citrusy marinade is enough to very delicately pickle the cabbage and carrots, making them more flavorful and easier digest. This is a great trick for making raw veggies, especially assertive and crunchy ones like cabbage, more approachable.
There are many ways to change up this recipe to make it work for you. I've shown all raw veggies here, primarily because they're a great complement to the hearty, chewy rice, but this vegan rice bowl will work great with whatever veggies you want to use. If you're planning to roast some veggies (broccoli would be wonderful), just toss them in the marinade toward the very end of the cooking time to avoid burning.
You can also easily choose your preferred level of heat in the marinade/sauce. Feel free to increase the cayenne if you really love heat, scale it back for less heat, or omit it for no heat. Alternatively, you could blend in your favorite spicy pepper, with or without seeds/ribs. You could even add in some grated fresh ginger for a different kind of heat.
Finally, the garnishes are really what make this spicy mango rice bowl fun. You can use whatever crunchy or fresh garnishes you love. I've shown black sesame seeds, shredded coconut, and cashews since I think all three of those go beautifully with mango. But other nuts (like almonds?), herbs (mint? basil?), or crunchy sesame sticks would work nicely.
As written, this recipe makes one hearty bowl. You can easily multiply it to feed more people, or split a single recipe into two smaller portions for healthy, colorful lunches.
Here's what you'll need for this vegan rice bowl recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
Did you know that Korean rice has many diverse nutritional benefits? And that it can be used not just as a nourishing food, but also for skin care? I'll definitely be working this powerhouse grain into my diet and into my skin care routine more frequently. This colorful vegan rice bowl is the perfect way to start!
This vibrant combination really showcases the beauty of Korean rice. I've deliberately kept the other ingredients fresh and raw so that the rice can be the star of the show. It's hearty but still light, and has a delightfully chewy texture that complements the raw veggies beautifully. With lots of ways to change up the flavors in this spicy mango rice bowl, I hope this is one you'll come back to again and again.
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
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Disclosure: This recipe has been developed through a paid partnership with I'm From. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.
Bursting with sweet mango, delicate spice, and a rainbow of raw veggies, this nourishing vegan bowl meal is as beautiful as it is delicious. It works great for meal prep too!
For the Spicy Mango Sauce
For the Bowl
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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