Hi all! Checking in today with a veggie-forward, sunshine-colored meal—because we could all use a little sunshine right now.
Even before this current moment, I was greeting the winter months with a focus on ingredients that can help to support the immune system. This includes vitamin C, folate, potassium, thiamin, and vitamin D, all of which are present in 100% orange juice—the featured ingredient in today’s recipe.
I love using 100% orange juice as a component in my cooking! It’s a great way to add natural sweetness and unique bright flavor to recipes, and I love how it infuses marinades and sauces with the sunny taste of citrus.
This year, I’ve been playing with Florida Orange Juice as a means of enhancing my recipes with Vitamins C and D. An 8-ounce serving of fortified 100% orange juice is an excellent source of the former and a good source of the latter—both of which may help to support the immune system.
That same serving of 100% orange juice also provides good amounts of potassium, folate, and thiamin, which are associated with supporting overall immune function, too. And potassium—as well as calcium, which is also present in fortified juices—are electrolytes, which means that they can help to support hydration, another key factor in supporting immunity and staying well.
Florida Orange Juice is the main ingredient in the hemp chimichurri sauce in Power Plates, which is one of my favorites. Using it in that recipe was my inspiration to include it in the creamy orange turmeric sauce here. That sauce is delightful with this particular dish, but you’ll have some leftover after you make this recipe, and from there, you can use it in salads and bowls. It’s really nice drizzled over grilled tofu, too, and it’s easy to make (only five ingredients!).
Vitamin C isn’t only a starring nutrient from 100% orange juice itself. Cauliflower is also a great source of Vitamin C, and there are other immune supportive nutrients present in this meal: zinc in the chickpeas, curcumin (which has anti-inflammatory properties) in the turmeric sauce.
While the foods we eat are no guarantee of avoiding illness, it’s nice knowing that we’ve done what we can to provide our bodies with the nutrients they need for strong immune function. With good flavor along the way. This sweet and savory dish is full of texture, satisfying but fresh, and a fun to eat. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
This recipe reminded me of how much I love to cook grains with nutrient-rich and flavorful liquids. The citrus-infused rice is subtle, but such a nice departure from the plain rice I usually make! To learn more about the nutrition and ingredients in Florida Orange Juice, you can like the Florida Orange Juice page on Facebook (@FloridaOrangeJuice) or follow along on Twitter (@OJfromFlorida) and Instagram (@FloridaOrangeJuice).
Enjoy the golden, sunny flavors and ingredients here, and take good care of yourselves, friends. I’ll be back soon.
xo
This post is sponsored by the Florida Department of Citrus. All opinions are my own. Thanks for your support!
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My husband and I loved this recipe! He especially loves the OJ sauce for the steaks – what a delicious dish.
So glad that this one is a hit in your home!
This looks really great. Your posts have a tendency to make me hungry even if I have just had a meal. I will definitely dd this to the long list of recipes I am trying while stuck at home.