Orange Chicken Sesame Wraps

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes

makes 4 servings

Introduction

“Food, like many things that give us warmth in our lives, is known to comfort. It is sought after + indulged in to provide us a temporary emotional safety blanket. And that’s ok when it is made with as much thought and consideration as the comfort we seek.” – ME when thinking about this recipe rehab

THIS DISH
I am a savory person at-heart when it comes to my food cravings + have an incredible love for Asian flavor profiles. If you haven’t noticed, I also love to stuff things and wrap them up in creative ways. I approach my recipe rehabs with thoughts of nutrition, flavor, + creativity- this dish is perfect for weekly meal prep or a fresh meal in under 30 minutes.

I cut the sugar + sodium (mostly made within the sauce itself) and offered options to make it more filling with added vegetables + whole grains. Make it your own by going with my suggestions and don’t waste any food by checking out how I repurpose my leftovers to save time + $.

RECIPE REHAB | MEAL MAKEOVER
The goal is to give you the most nutrients possible to uplift your health without sacrificing flavor, fulness, or even, the beauty on your plate.

In this recipe…
*Make with steamed broccoli so no oils/fats are needed for cooking
*Add flavor and crunch with scallions on top
8Add raw veggies with the wraps + bulk the recipe up by adding in shredded cabbage
*Optional add-ins for color + more veg: shredded carrot, radish, jicama, mung bean sprouts…
*Add healthy fats with diced or sliced avocado + 1 TB hemp hearts/serving
*Skip the white rice or pasta + instead add in quick-cooked whole grains in the form of brown or black rice or lower carb options like cauliflower rice or kelp noodles

GROCERY STORE TIPS
Our lives can’t + shouldn’t be spent scrambling for time + effort to plan, shop for, + prep healthy meals. I’ve got you.

FOR THE CHICKEN:
*Bulk cook chicken breasts for the week (in a neutral flavor like low-sodium, organic chicken stock or extra virgin olive oil with lemon)
*In this recipe, then you would store the pre-made chicken in the sauce overnight or toss it together when serving (makes a lighter flavor)
OR
*Buy a rotisserie chicken, peel off the skin, + hand shred

FOR THE SAUCE:
*DIY sauce for a low-sugar option
*Instead of using added sugar, I simply used real orange juice + other ingredients to fortify the flavor.
*Store-bought sauce (how to shop the “best” options)
Check the label. Ingredient lists have the most used ingredients listed as one of the first 3. If it is a sugar
or sugar substitute, skip it.

OTHER TIPS:
*Buy pre-cut broccoli + any veg you are choosing to use
*I pre-chop all veggies for the week on Sundays + store them in Produce Saver containers until ready-to-use. Saves time + $ by keeping them fresh, longer.
*Purchase the quick-steam brown or “forbidden” black rice bowls by Annie Chun’s or Lotus Foods (Serving size note: 1 meal = ½ of a container)

MEAL PREP TIPS
Whether it is a designated meal prep day for the week or cooking meals fresh, there are tips to make your prep time efficient and your meal plan + storage effective.

*Microwave steam the broccoli.
How-To: cut into florets, place in a glass Tupperware dish, place 1-2 inches of water in the bottom, steam
until tender (4+ minutes)
*Before separating cabbage leaves, hack off the bottom.
NOTE: the top few may rip. I use a butter knife to slip up from the bottom to start it.
When storing, keep the ingredients separate until serving.
*Store the raw veggies in a small Tupperware or reusable baggie
*Store the cabbage leaves in a baggie or wrapped in moist paper towels
*Cooked veggies + chicken should be in its own Tupperware container.
NOTE: there are meal prep Tupperware containers that have sections in them to store things without
touching.

HOW-TO: REPURPOSE THE LEFTOVERS
Sometimes you just don’t want the same exact thing for your leftovers + I always make sure my groceries are used so there is no waste at the end of the week. Using the same ingredients with a twist is a great way to accomplish both!

BROCCOLI: I chop extra broccoli to use in breakfasts for the week to start off with some fiber-filled greens
1 cup steamed broccoli with 3 scrambled egg whites, 1 TB grated Parmesan cheese, Himalayan crystal salt + pepper
½ brown rice bowl (microwave steamed) with ½ cup steamed broccoli, dash of teriyaki sauce, red pepper flakes, 1 TB hemp hearts, 1 egg over-easy or soft-boiled (during meal prep, soft- or hard-boil eggs for the week)

RAW VEGGIES: prep a slaw with the cabbage leaves remaining by shredding + adding in any other raw veggies you have (julienned, cut into matchsticks, or shredded) and use it as a base for other meals

CHICKEN: take the prepared chicken leftovers + make them into Nori wraps by adding raw veggies + a drizzle of tahini or into a kelp noodle pasta bowl with any veggies you choose + a bit of a teriyaki or coconut amino drizzle.

Steps

1. Chop the veggies according to the instructions (including any toppings.) Set aside.

2. Make the sauce: in a saucepan over medium heat, add in the ginger + garlic- saute for 30 seconds-1 minute. Stir in the aminos, orange juice, vinegar, + zest- bring to a boil, reduce the heat. Mix the starch with a dash of water in a small bowl. Add into the saucepan, stirring, simmer for 10-15 minutes or until sauce thickens. Add red pepper flakes, to taste.

3. At the same time between “stirs”- in a large wok or skillet over medium heat, heat the sesame oil for 30 seconds. Toss in the chicken + cook for 7-8 minutes or until cooked through.

4. Meanwhile, steam the broccoli. See microwave quick prep notes below.

5. Toss the broccoli, chicken, scallions, + chicken together in bowl- pour the sauce over it + mix well. (Note the below recommendation to wait to add raw veggies until serving.)

6. Serve in cabbage leaves with the toppers + any whole grain of your choosing.

How to make

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