Now that I’m working from home, I’m eating a lot of lunches on my own. Usually, I’m deep in the middle of some project, and don’t want to spend a lot of time pulling together a lunch. This means I’ll grab something quick and easy from the fridge. But sometimes, I feel like taking advantage of the fact that I have my full kitchen at my disposal and work up a hot lunch.
I have quite a few hot lunch go-tos, but this one is one of my absolute favorites. It comes together in about 10 minutes, it’s packed with flavor, leafy greens, and healthy plant-based fiber and protein. And my favorite part—it’s perfectly portioned for one, filling lunch-sized serving.
The truth is, this recipe is much less of a “recipe” and more like a suggestion of types of ingredients. I say that, because it’s so super adaptable. I like the combo of white beans and the crunch of lightly-sauteed pak choy, but you can use black beans and spinach or butter beans and chard or pinto beans and kale. Whatever you love (and have around) will work. Thanks to the flavorful base, it’s really hard to mess this one up. Really hard.
I usually just pour everything into a bowl and eat it as an entrée, but this would also work as a healthy side dish for any dinner. And if you put a perfectly poached egg or two on top, you’ve got yourself a great breakfast to start your day.
Enjoy!
Bacon, Beans, and Greens (for One!)
I usually just pour everything into a bowl and eat it as an entrée, but this would also work as a healthy side dish for any dinner. And if you put a perfectly poached egg or two on top, you've got yourself a great breakfast to start your day.
Ingredients
- 1 slice thick-cut bacon, cut into small pieces
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 cups greens, cut into bite-sized pieces (I used pak choy)
- 1 15-ounce can beans, drained and rinsed (I used cannellini beans)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a Dutch oven or a saute pan with a lid, saute the bacon, garlic, red pepper flakes and onion over medium-high heat until the bacon is crisp and the onion is tender, about five minutes.
- Add in the water, and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Add in the greens, cover and let greens wilt for about 2 minutes.
- Add in beans, salt and pepper and stir, cook for about another 90 seconds, or until the beans are warmed. Remove from heat and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1 Serving Size: 1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 613Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 2017mgCarbohydrates: 119gFiber: 34gSugar: 38gProtein: 36g
At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.
