Like many of us at Brava, our VP of Engineering, JD, makes breakfast in his Brava every day. JD makes a breakfast bowl like nobody’s business and today, we’re turning to him for his tips.
Why Brava is Essential to My Morning Routine:
Making a more involved breakfast and having a morning routine gives me time to separate home from work. No-stress tasks such as cooking with Brava and cleaning give me a little time to brainstorm and think about my day. It’s almost meditative. It’s also a creative outlet to use things I have on hand to make great food in the Brava. A mini challenge.
My breakfast bowls came to be because I started a nutrition plan with a nutrition coach (Laura @ BlueJ) that required me to eat 9 servings of vegetables per day. I had to start eating them early or there was no way I could get them all in later in the day. By making creative use of leftovers, I get my servings of vegetables first thing in the morning since most of my breakfast bowls are ready in less than 15 minutes thanks to my Brava.
A Few Notes on Prep:
In order to optimize my morning prep I try to cook large portions of items that take a long time and have them around for reheating. It’s all about using leftovers. At my size (6’4, ~230lb) and activity level — daily HIIT workouts — I eat quite a bit, so this is more than most people should eat.
I try to balance the bowls for 2-3 servings of vegetables, 2 servings carbs, 2-3 servings protein, and 1-2 serving fat (or fatty protein). I make these 100% in my Brava because my electric stove sucks and can barely boil water.
I usually also try to add in a side of some fresh veggies, such as tomatoes or cucumbers. So, what does a week of Brava breakfast bowls look like? Let’s take a look!
A Week of Brava Breakfast Bowls
Monday
Breakfast Bowl #1: Bacon, Poached Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, and Arugula
Instructions:
- Cook two strips of thick Bacon. When done, remove the bacon from the pan, reserve the rendered fat, and set both aside.
- Cook a full tray of Breakfast Potatoes made on the pan with the rendered bacon grease.
- Make salad, dressed with vinegar but not fat.
- Plate about 1 cup of the potatoes. Save the leftovers in the fridge.
- Cook and plate two Poached Eggs on the potatoes. Top bowl with arugula, and top eggs with Sriracha.
- Season with Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning.
Monday Night Prep:
- Monday night make two Pork Tenderloins for dinner.
- Eat some of the first tenderloin, then save the leftovers.
- Make Roasted Mixed Vegetables.
- Enjoy some with dinner, and save the leftovers.
Tuesday
Breakfast Bowl #2: Poached eggs, Pork Tenderloin, Sweet Potatoes and Mixed Vegetables
Instructions:
- Cook a full tray of Sweet Potato Rounds, seasoned with salt, pepper, and chili powder or smoked paprika.
- Plate about 6 rounds of potatoes. Save leftovers.
- Reheat Monday’s leftover roasted mixed vegetables on the Brava Metal Tray on the top shelf for 4-5 minutes.
- Cook two Poached Eggs, on the setting for four eggs. Put about 8 ounces of Monday’s leftover pork in the two empty wells in the Brava Egg Tray to reheat while the eggs cook.
Wednesday
Breakfast Bowl #3: Bacon, Poached Eggs, Broccoli, Mushrooms, and Salsa
Instructions:
- Cook a full tray of Broccoli, but fill one zone with broccoli, and the other two zones with ½” sliced shiitake mushrooms.
- Plate one cup of roasted broccoli and mushrooms, save leftovers.
- Cook two strips of thick Bacon. When done, remove the bacon from the pan, reserve the rendered fat, and set both aside.
- Cook two Poached Eggs, on the setting for four eggs in the Brava Egg Tray. Place rendered bacon fat in the two wells for the eggs, place 4 ounces of bacon in one well, and place Monday’s leftover breakfast potatoes in the other well to reheat while the eggs cook.
- Plate roasted broccoli and mushrooms, and top with poached eggs and bacon. Top with salsa if desired.
Wednesday Night Prep:
- Make Tri-Tip for dinner and save leftovers.
Thursday
Breakfast Bowl #4: Poached eggs, Tri-Tip, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli, and Mushrooms
Instructions:
- Reheat leftover broccoli, mushrooms, and sweet potato on your Braval Metal Tray for several minutes.
- Cook two Poached Eggs on the setting for four eggs. Add 8 ounces of Wednesday’s leftover tri-tip to the empty wells.
- Plate warmed vegetables, and top with poached eggs and tri-tip.
Friday
Friday Morning: Breakfast Bowl # 5: Get creative!
Throw together whatever leftovers you have with some fried eggs. Maybe you want to make individual frittatas with some leftover roasted vegetables. Or perhaps you can make a breakfast hash. Whatever you decide, remember there are no rules when making your perfect breakfast bowl – just let your taste buds and creativity guide you.
Happy Cooking!
JD Conley
VP, Engineering