Rice

• 1½ cups (300 g) long-grain brown rice
• 2¼ cups (625 ml) vegetable stock
• 2 teaspoons chicken-style seasoning – optional

Toppings

• ½ cup (70 g) whole peanuts
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 block (300 g) extra-firm tofu, pressed and cubed
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 2 heads bok choy (or other leafy greens), chopped
• 1 cup (125 g) chopped green beans
• 2 cups (150 g) shredded Chinese or savoy cabbage
• 1 cup (125 g) diced carrots

Green soup

• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
• 2 cups (40 g) lightly packed Thai or regular basil leaves
• 2 cups (40 g) lightly packed mint leaves
• 1 cup (20 g) lightly packed coriander (cilantro) leaves
• 1/3 cup (45 g) crushed peanuts
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 cup (250 ml) hot vegetable stock
• 2.5 cm ginger
• ½ teaspoon salt

Place the rice, vegetable stock and chicken-style seasoning (if using) in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Lower the heat, cover and simmer until the rice is cooked through, about 30–45 minutes.

Meanwhile, fry the toppings. Dry-fry the peanuts in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat until golden and fragrant, then set aside. Add a little oil to the pan and fry the tofu cubes until golden and slightly crisp, then set aside. Add a little bit more oil and a quarter of the garlic and fry for about a minute, until aromatic. Next, add the bok choy and cook until just wilted, then set aside. Repeat with the green beans, cabbage and carrots, frying them all separately with a quarter of the garlic.

To make the soup, pour the oil into a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat and fry the basil, mint and coriander leaves until they are beginning to wilt and soften, about 2–3 minutes. Add the peanuts and sesame seeds, and keep frying to lightly toast them. When you start to smell the aroma of the peanuts, and the greens have wilted completely, remove from the heat and tip the contents of the pan into a food processor or high-speed blender. Add the stock, ginger and salt, and blend to a smooth puree.

To serve, spoon some brown rice onto a plate. Place a little bit of the fried tofu, bok choy, green beans, cabbage and carrot around the rice, then serve with a small bowl of green soup and some of the roasted peanuts alongside. Before eating, pour the soup over the rice and toss well.