Bánh Mì Soup | Vegetarian, Vegan-friendly

This post is sponsored by Sweet Earth Foods, however all content, editorial comments and enthusiasm remain my own. Thank you for considering products that support The Fit Fork.

Soup or a sandwich, it’s so hard to decide! Bánh Mì, a traditional Vietnamese sandwich, is one of my favorite lunches – all those sweet crunchy vegetables and distinctive herbs packed into a baguette, so scrumptious. But, as cold-natured as I can be, a piping-hot soup seems a more practical cold-weather meal. So, to enjoy the best of both, I created a Bánh Mì Soup – it’s just as vibrant and lively as it’s namesake sammie, but ready to chase away the chill! Banh Mi Noodle Bowl Soup

Today’s Bánh Mì Soup is bread-free thanks to a swap of the crusty baguette for crowd-pleasing rice noodles. Just a trivia FYI, the bread is a holdover from when French had colonial control of Vietnam in the late 1880s. Notably, Bánh Mì Soup is suitable for vegetarian and vegan diets thanks to Mindful Chik’n. Read on to learn more about this new plant-based protein from Sweet Earth Foods and get the Banh Mi Soup recipe. Continue reading

Dragon Fruit Coulis Fish with Pink Rice Vermecilli

Dragon Fruit Coulis Atlantic Cod with Pinkened Rice VermicelliMake dinner “Pretty in Pink” with this lovely and light recipe for Dragon Fruit Coulis Atlantic Cod with Pink Rice Vermicelli. Dragon Fruit is just so fabulous and exotic, I get woozy with excitement when I find some beautiful ones at the market just waiting for loving attention.   This easy-to-make fish dinner is as delicious and nutritious as it is lovely to look at —  how fun would it be for a spa party, girl’s night in, special celebration or even just an impressive (and simple) weeknight dinner.  I don’t like my food to look or taste boring, do you?!

Dragon Fruit Coulis Atlantic Cod

I get my Atlantic Cod and other fish and seafood from SizzleFish.com. Their flaky, white cod is caught on Georges Bank off New England and Nova Scotia – they chose only premium fish for customers and they never try to pass of Pacific Cod (a completely different, cheaper variety of fish) as some other vendors do.  I love this company that makes it quick and easy to make a healthy meal with their flash-frozen seafood collections. These assortments of high-quality fish, shrimp and other seafood are mindfully sourced from the best the world has to offer and shipped straight to my front door in perfectly –portioned, individually vacuum-sealed pouches. SizzleFish.com is the perfect way to make sure there is always quality protein around for muscle-making.

****Note: While I used Cod, you can use any type of firm, white-fleshed fish for this recipe. Also, mung cellophane noodles can be swapped for the rice vermicelli

Dragon Fruit Coulis Atlantic Cod with Pinkend Rice Vermecelli -- as pretty as it is healthy to eat!

Do you know much about the Dragon Fruit? It’s also referred to as a Pitaya, Strawberry Pear or Mood Flower and is the unusually striking fruit of a cactus – don’t worry, there are no thorns or stickers on it!  There are different types of Drago Fruit – pink or yellow exterior and white or magenta interiors speckled with tiny edible seeds. Despite their showy appearance, the taste is quite mild, similar to a kiwi –the purple-pink fleshed ones will actually stain your hands  — and I took advantage of that dye-like property for the creation of my Pink Dragon Fruit Rice Noodles.

Pink Dragon Fruit Rice Vermacelli are gluten-free noodles soaked in water with this exotic fruit to create the vibrant color!

 

Have you ever tasted a dragon fruit? What is your favorite color? Please share in the comments below — XOXO, Jennifer

Dragon Fruit Coulis Cod with Pinkened Rice Vermecilli
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
In 15 minutes, you can make a "Pretty in Pink" fish dinner that is almost to beautiful to eat -- but please do, this recipe is tasty and healthy!
Course: Main Dish, Pasta
Cuisine: American, Asian
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 4-oz filets Atlantic Cod I get mine from sizlefish.com
  • 1/2 teaspoon pink himalayan salt
  • 2 teaspoons cocount oil
  • 1 cup cubed pink dragon fruit can use frozen, thawed
  • 3 - 4 cups hot water
  • 4 "nests" rice vermecelli
  • 1/4 cup white white
  • 1 tablespoon rice vineager
  • 1 teaspoon Sriracha
  • Noodle Garnishes: Edamame beans, green onions, bean sprouts, etc
Instructions
  1. Rub fish with salt on all sides.
  2. Heat coconut oil to medium high in small skillet. Add fish and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until flaky and no longer transparent.
  3. Meanwhile, add dragon fruit and noodles to large bowl and top with very hot, almost boiling water. Let this soak for 3 to 5 minutes or until noodles softened.
  4. Carefully remove "nests" of noodles. Pour liquid through small-mesh strainer to reserve dragon fruit. Set noodles aside.
  5. Remove fish from skillet. Add reserved dragon fruit, white wine, vinegar, and sriracha and cook for several minutes over medium high until fruit breaking down and liquid reduced.
  6. To serve, place fish on noodle nest and top with dragon fruit coulis. Add additional vegetables if desired.