VEGAN RIZ A L'ORIENTALE

[Vegetarian Rice Bowl]

...I think it's funny that the bracketed section say Vegetarian...I'm thinking this is the only recipe in the book so labeled...

...Y'all know that Julia was a research assistant in the Secret Intelligence division of the OSS during World War II and she was posted to China...and she wrote in her journal about her love of the food there...so I wasn't totally surprised to see this dish in her French Cookbook...

...the ingredients are not what we typically find in the 'American' version of Chinese food today...

...or course you're going to start with some rice - RIZ À LA VAPEUR...

...then some eggplant...diced...

...and sautéed...

...until it's all golden...with that terrific carmelization on the edges...

...then sauté some onions in some Earth Balance and herbs...

...and you'll need some little tomatoes...and some walnuts...see...not your traditional ingredients at all...

...and you'll need to make a few omelettes...I used my favorite VEGAN L'OMELETTE BROUILLÉE...

...then you put your steamed rice in a big pot...so you can fluff it more easily...and add some chopped walnuts...

...add your onions and eggplant...

...cut your tomatoes in half and add those too...

...then toss everything together...

...then put it all in a rice bowl and top with a sliced omelette...

...Julia says to pass chopsticks to your guests...so we did - we didn't have any guests though...and it's always fun to eat with chopsticks...this dish is so delicious and just so surprising...we'll definitely be making this again...

Substitutions:
Earth Balance for Butter
VEGAN L'OMELETTE BROUILLÉE for the omelette

Recipe here: Mastering the Art of French Cooking

p. 531