Cupuacu is gaining popularity as more and more people around the globe are becoming aware of its health benefits. In fact, celebrity health practitioner Dr. Oz extolled cupuacu and recommended it to help combat aging, body weight and other health issues. Apart from being a healthy super-fruit it also has a great taste. Here are a few cupuacu recipes which you can prepare easily at the convenience of your own kitchen.
Brown Rice with Cupuacu:
This is an excellent cupuacu recipe which is light to eat and digest. Although rice is more commonly consumed during main course of the meal, you can also eat this dish for breakfast or brunch.
* Ingredients:
- Brown rice: 2 cups
- Cupuacu powder: 1/2 cup
- Jalapenos: 2, medium sized
- Anaheim Green Chili: 2
- Onion: 2, medium sized
- Lemon juice: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: As per taste
- Cumin seed: 1.5 teaspoon
- Cinnamon powder: Half teaspoon
- Black pepper: 1 teaspoon
- Cashew (optional): 10-15 pieces
- Cooking oil: 2 tablespoons (You may go for using olive oil)
* Instructions to prepare:
1. Wash brown rice properly. Cook brown rice with salt and keep aside. In the subsequent steps you will see that we will be frying cooked brown rice. Freshly cooked rice tends to form lumps while cooking. Therefore, for this preparation it is ideal to use cooked brown rice which was cooked at least 3-4 hours before we fry it. You may also go for cooking the brown rice at night and leaving it overnight before frying.
2. Cut onion and capsicum into thin long pieces. Cut green chili by tearing it vertically into two long pieces.
3. In a deep sauce pan, heat oil. Add cumin seeds to the hot oil immediately followed by onion and green chilly. Fry the onion on medium heat until it starts to turn pink.
4. Add capsicum and cupuacu powder to the onions and fry for about a minute on low heat.
5. Add salt, pepper, cinnamon powder and lemon juice and mix well.
6. Add boiled brown rice to the fried vegetables and mix slowly without mashing the rice.
7. Fry the rice for about 2-3 minutes on medium heat.
8. Cut cashew into small pieces. In a small pan heat about 1 teaspoon of oil. Put off the heat and fry cashew in the hot oil until they turn golden brown.
9. In a shallow bowl spread the cashew at the bottom of the bowl evenly. Now fill the bowl till the top with the fried rice pressing slowly and evenly.
10. In a rice plate or platter dish, invert the bowl and slowly pull it away, so that a mould of rice is left on the plate.
11. Serve immediately.
* Garnishing suggestion:
While serving sprinkle with freshly ground cinnamon powder and with fresh green coriander leaves.
Cupuacu Strawberry Smoothie:
Cupuacu is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. Try this smoothie with the flavor of strawberry and the taste and goodness of cupuacu. This is a great desert and a good choice after eating the above brown rice dish.
* Ingredients:
- Cupuacu pulp: 1 cup
- Strawberry: 1 cup, washed and diced
- Low fat yogurt: Half cup, vanilla flavoured
- Low fat milk: Half cup
- Sugar (optional): As per taste
- Ice cubes: 2
* Instructions to prepare:
1. Add all the ingredients in a blender and blend until a smooth puree is formed.
2. Transfer the contents of the blender in tall glasses and serve immediately.
* Garnishing suggestion:
Top up the smoothie with a dollop of vanilla ice cream before serving.
Out of these healthy and mouth watering cupuacu recipes, which one will you try today?
Tags: Brown Rice, Chili pepper, hot oil