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Easy Ham, Broccolini and Cauliflower Rice Bowls

This easy ham, broccolini and cauliflower rice bowl is an everyday meal that comes together in minutes. It is perfect for busy weeknights when you want a good homemade dinner but do not want to spend a long time in the kitchen.
Tender broccolini, cauliflower and colourful bell peppers are simmered briefly in a savoury chicken stock mixture, then combined with cubed cooked ham. Since the ham is already cooked, it only needs a few minutes to warm through. Everything is served over fluffy rice with a creamy sesame-ginger sauce on the side for drizzling.
The sauce adds a tangy, slightly sweet finish and makes this simple ham and vegetable rice bowl feel a little more special. Still easy. Still quick.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine Asian inspired
Servings 4 servings
Calories 1044 kcal

Equipment

  • Large skillet or wok
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Wooden spoon or silicone spatula
  • Sharp kitchen knife
  • Cutting board
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Rice cooker or medium saucepan
  • Serving bowls

Ingredients
  

Ham and Vegetable Rice Bowls

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 2 cups cooked ham cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets cut into small pieces
  • 1 bunch broccolini trimmed and cut into shorter pieces
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped or thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper chopped or thinly sliced
  • 3 green onions thinly sliced
  • 4 cups rice cooked and kept warm
  • Sesame seeds for optional garnish
  • Fresh cilantro for optional garnish

Savoury Chicken Stock Mixture

  • 1 cup chicken stock preferably low sodium
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey or brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water

Creamy Sesame-Ginger Sauce

  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon fresh ginger finely grated
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons water for thinning
  • 1 teaspoon lime juice optional

Instructions
 

Prepare the creamy sesame-ginger sauce.

  • Add the mayonnaise, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, ginger and lime juice to a small bowl. Whisk until smooth.

Adjust the sauce consistency.

  • Add the water, one tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is thin enough to drizzle. Refrigerate while preparing the rice bowls. The flavour improves a little as it sits.

Prepare the chicken stock mixture.

  • Add the chicken stock, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, garlic and ginger to a bowl. Stir until combined.

Begin cooking the vegetables.

  • Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower and cook for about 2 minutes.

Add the broccolini and stock.

  • Add the broccolini and pour in the chicken stock mixture. Cover and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the cauliflower begins to soften. The vegetables should still hold their shape.

Warm the cooked ham.

  • Add the cubed ham and stir gently. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. The ham is already fully cooked, so it only needs to become hot and pick up some of the savoury flavour.

Add the bell peppers.

  • Stir in the red and yellow bell peppers. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Adding them near the end keeps them colourful and slightly crisp instead of soft and mushy.

Thicken the cooking liquid.

  • Mix the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl until smooth. Pour the mixture into the skillet while stirring. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the liquid lightly thickens and coats the ham and vegetables.

Assemble the rice bowls.

  • Divide the warm rice among four bowls. Spoon the ham, broccolini, cauliflower and bell pepper mixture over the rice.

Finish and serve.

  • Garnish with green onions, sesame seeds and fresh cilantro. Serve the creamy sesame-ginger sauce in a small bowl on the side or drizzle it over each serving.
    • Use low-sodium chicken stock and taste the skillet mixture before adding extra seasoning. Cooked ham and soy sauce can both be fairly salty. The creamy sesame-ginger sauce also adds plenty of flavour, so a light hand with the salt usually works best.

Notes

  • Use fully cooked ham for this easy ham rice bowl recipe. Add it near the end because it only needs a few minutes to warm through.
  • Cut the cauliflower into small, even florets so it cooks at the same rate as the broccolini. Larger pieces may still be firm when the other vegetables are ready.
  • Slice thick broccolini stems in half lengthwise. The stems take longer to soften than the tops.
  • Add the red and yellow bell peppers during the final few minutes of cooking. This keeps them bright, slightly crisp and full of fresh flavour.
  • Low-sodium chicken stock works best in this ham and vegetable rice bowl because the cooked ham and soy sauce already add salt.
  • Mix the cornstarch with cold water before adding it to the skillet. Stir it in gradually to create a smooth, lightly thickened sauce.
  • Prepare the creamy sesame-ginger sauce before cooking the vegetables. A short rest gives the garlic, ginger and sesame flavours time to blend.
  • Add water to the sesame-ginger sauce a little at a time. It should be creamy but thin enough to drizzle over the rice bowl.
  • Jasmine rice, white rice or brown rice all work well with this easy ham, broccolini and cauliflower rice bowl. Leftover rice makes the meal even faster.
  • Keep the rice warm while preparing the skillet mixture so the entire dinner is ready to serve at the same time.
  • Taste the ham and vegetables before adding extra salt. Some hams are much saltier than others.
  • Leftover turkey or chicken can replace the ham in this quick weeknight rice bowl recipe. Add either one near the end so the meat stays tender.
  • Serve the sesame-ginger sauce on the side when cooking for a family. Everyone can add as much or as little as they like.
  • Garnish with sliced green onions, cilantro and sesame seeds just before serving for extra freshness, colour and texture.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 1044kcalCarbohydrates: 169gProtein: 30gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 1568mgPotassium: 778mgFiber: 5gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1845IUVitamin C: 172mgCalcium: 118mgIron: 3mg
Keyword 30-minute ham dinner, Asian-inspired ham rice bowl, broccolini rice bowl, easy ham dinner recipe, easy ham rice bowl, ham and cauliflower rice bowl, ham and vegetable rice bowl, ham broccolini rice bowl, quick ham dinner, recipe
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