If you are living a mainly or 100% plant-based lifestyle, probiotics such as kimchi are a must. Fermenting vegetables is super easy, it adds zings to your dishes and is packed with much-needed friendly gut bacteria to protect your health.
Probiotics are live bacteria or yeasts that are good for your health and the digestive system. Probiotics are often called the "good" or "friendly" bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.
Probiotics help in the digestion of food. Though researchers are still trying to figure out the link between certain health problems and probiotics, it is clear that our health starts in our gut.
Probiotics have been found to improve, soothe or prevent conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), infectious diarrhea (caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites), antibiotic-related diarrhea, skin conditions (like eczema), urinary and vaginal infections, allergies, colds, oral health. Furthermore, probiotics have been shown to strengthen and boost the immune system.
Though many vegans rely on probiotic supplements to up their friendly gut bacteria, there are so many wonderful plant-based foods (that aren't cultured dairy-free yogurt) you can add to your diet to up your intake of friendly bacteria. Kimchi is one of them. We add it to salads or serve it as a side with stews and curries... so yum and good for you!
Broccoli Bell Pepper Dhal with Homemade Kimchi
Ingredients
- Β½ cup uncooked split lentils, we used yellow lentils, soak for 10-30 minutes
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup bell pepper (any color), chopped
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 cup tomato, chopped
- 1 cup potatoes, chopped
- 1.5-2 cup water
- 1.5-2 cups bok choy, chopped
- Β½ lime, juice only (1-1.5 tsp)
- Homemade kimchi
FYI: CLICK HERE for my homemade kimchi recipe
Herb mix
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- Β½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- Black pepper and sea salt to taste
Directions
- In a pot heat cooking oil over medium heat and cook onion for 2-3 minutes, then stir in herb mix and garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes more. Stir regularly.
- Add tomatoes, bell pepper, and broccoli. Cook for 2 minutes more before adding the potatoes, water, and lentils. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Stir occasionally and season with salt and pepper. Last few minutes, add lime juice and bok choy and cook until wilted.
- Serve with a kimchi side.
Enjoy this probiotic-packed meal!
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PICTURE(s) TAKEN WITH NIKON D5600
valuable food for a good body
It sure is. Thanks for stopping by @kayes12345!
That sounds amazing! Fermented foods are great, I recently made my first batch of sauerkraut and carrots, it came out wonderful and it was very easy. My next batch I made this past Saturday has cabbage, carrot and fresh ginger. I cannot wait until I can try it!
Happy belly, happy you ;) Love sauerkraut too. Kimchi is the spicy Korean variation of it.
would love to try this!!
Thanks @doitvoluntarily for stopping by ;)
This looks like the perfect meal to warm you up in the winter time!! I think I would do my own spin on it and add a bit of Cholula hot sauce! :D Thanks for sharing this recipe!
KImchi made it hot enough for me hehe. Thanks for your comment @mrslauren ;)
That looks so delicious! Need to try this one as well :)
Enjoy my friend! We loved it!
Ok this is what I'm having for my tea tonight! Love dahl and your recipe sounds sooooooo good Amy! :-)
Same here... ever since we embarked on a plant-based lifestyle, Indian inspired dishes are often on the menu! So much flavor goes into these dishes. Thanks for stopping by @woman-onthe-wing.
Yes, same here, and curries too! It's funny people ask don't I ever miss meat, but no, I enjoy my meals so much more these days than I ever did as a meat eater! With plants you're forced to think more about combinations, flavours, textures, even colours, and not only does everything taste better but you feel better after eating it!
I am with you. Don't miss meat at all and though I was a cheese eater in the past, my belly is quite happy I pass on the cheese these days too.
Hi my dear! It looks so much delicious! Always i discover the healthy food with you, i hear about the kimchi but never i try it, it will come very good with dholl.
If you like spicy and fermented food, you should give kimchi a try. It's so good. Take care my dear friend!
I love vegan kimchi, yours looks great ^^
Thanks @mermaid. No need for the shrimp paste. Taste great without. Some people like to add seaweed instead.