This is a recipe based off what I can remember from the cookbook “The Art of American Indian Cooking” by Yeffe Kimball and Jean Anderson. The book has disappeared somewhere in my house and I haven’t been able to locate it yet.
This is my most frequently chosen meal for hot breakfast because it’s healthy, quick and can be taken on the go. I’m not much of a fan of onions or onion-like plants but I do like scallions and I substitute them anywhere a recipe calls for onions. [The one exception is shallots which I frequently use in most soups.] This is a recipe that could win over almost any picky eater. I also like this recipe because it has the taste quality of a dish you’d find in places like Hugo’s Restaurant or Du-par’s but its simplicity gives the feeling of classic comfort/homemade food.
This is a very easy recipe and it can also be adapted based on what you’ve got in your kitchen. It’s a great light meal for breakfast, lunch and even dinner and is even better paired with fresh fruit and raw veggies. Being that I’m vegetarian and don’t eat meat anymore, vegetarian bacon was substituted for the bacon in this recipe.
I’ll also add that turmeric is not a spice used by Native Americans and it is not used in Native American cuisine. It didn’t exist in North America early in history and is a “recent addition” that was brought when [non-Native] people started “immigrating” to America.
Turmeric is a South Asian spice most commonly found in and associated with Indian cuisine but it’s also found in Pakistani cuisine. It’s used both powdered and freshly grated like ginger but is most often used dry in powder form. It’s an ingredient best known for its use in curry but it’s used to flavor and color both savory and sweet dishes. It’s used as a dye for clothing and is present in some skin and hair products.
Turmeric adds a golden yellow to yellow to yellow-orange to orange color to some foods and certain fabrics. It has a fresh subtle earthy aroma to it but it’s relatively tasteless so you can add it to just about anything. Turmeric is also said to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties which is said to aid in the potential treatment and prevention of various diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, allergies and arthritis.
In this case, turmeric was used because while I don’t mind eating egg whites, my family is not nuts about them so a dash of turmeric makes the egg whites look more appetizing and just makes for a nice presentation.
Ingredients: [‘egg whites’, ‘vegetarian bacon’, ‘scallions’, ‘sea salt’, ‘fresh cracked pepper’, ‘dried parsley flakes’, ‘turmeric’, ‘cooking spray’]
Quantity of Ingredients: [“12 egg whites (lightly beaten)”,”8 slices vegetarian bacon (I use Smart Bacon)”,”5 scallions (washed)”,”1/2 teaspoon sea salt”,”1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper”,”1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes”,”1/8 teaspoon turmeric”,” cooking spray”]
Number of Servings: 4
Steps: [‘Coat the bottom of a skillet or frying pan with cooking spray and heat on medium heat. Mince the Smart Bacon and add to the pan. Spray lightly with a thin layer of cooking spray and stir for a minute.’, “Slice the scallions vertically into two to three thin strips and then cut them into thin slices, carrying up to the green parts. Check to make sure there is no mold or dirt in the greener parts of your scallions before slicing. If there is, don’t use these parts. Add the chopped scallions to the minced veggie bacon and keep stirring for about three to four minutes or until the bacon starts to brown slightly. You want to crisp the Smart Bacon but you don’t want to burn it, so keep an eye on the bacon. Set a timer if you need to because this stuff can burn easily if you don’t pay attention.”, ‘Turn the heat down to low, add the turmeric and keep stirring for another minute.’, ‘Add the egg whites, sea salt, fresh cracked pepper and parsley, and stir together.’, ‘Plate and pair with fresh fruit, whole grain toast, juice and water. The eggs are best served hot. Serving size is equivalent to three egg whites.’]