The Easiest, Simplest Way to Feed Yourself

let me introduce you to my theory of R+2

Photo by Mgg Vitchakorn on Unsplash

I find, more often than I like, that my desire to cook and how-well stocked my kitchen is are at odds with one another. They have an antagonistic relationship — not a motivating one. My brain will, at first, giddily think of all the produce, all the grains, all the sauces, all the cheeses, all the things I want to use up in my freezer and then completely short circuit. I will be in full-blown meal time decision paralysis and end up eating a bowl of milk and cereal, or even worse, order mediocre delivery.

As someone who has always loved creativity within constraints, I find that having less options really helps my brain make not only a decision, but take action. I needed to create a simple formula for myself, one I could always lean on. That is where R+2 was born. R+2 is my theory that a bowl of hot rice (I prefer white) plus two low effort toppings is all you need for a decent, satisfying meal that offers (at least some) nutrients that bodies need. You don’t have to stop at two toppings, but you need at least two!

I find that this theory is even more applicable these days as the cost of groceries continues to rise. No special condiments or toppings need to be bought. Use what you already have or own! Plus, rice remains a relatively cheap staple and something you can make big batches of ahead of time. I like to keep a handful of servings of rice in my freezer because even sometimes waiting 20-30 minutes for rice to cook in an Instant Pot or rice cooker is just way too long for me — patience is not a virtue I was naturally blessed with. Just don’t go overboard with the eggs!

R+2 is also a great way to combat food waste and use up any bits or bobs that aren’t quite enough for another use. And it’s customizable to anyone’s dietary requirements or preferences unless of course you follow something like the truly ridiculous carnivore diet (I cannot stop watching the videos of people raw dogging entire sticks of butter… for a snack.)

If you know me, you know my OG R+2 combo, and one of my all time favorite foods is yogurt with rice and a little bit of Indian pickle. I’ve written about it for Food & Wine and you can find two recipes in my cookbook AMRIKAN. But here are some other R+2 combo ideas — and keep in mind salt and pepper don’t count and you can use them freely!

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

R+2 Ideas

Yogurt + Indian Pickle
Yogurt + Fried Curry Leaves
Ghee + Podi (like gunpowder)
Tzatziki (store-bought) + Grilled Halloumi pieces
Gochujang + Sautéed Veggies
Butter + Soy Sauce
Butter + Green Peas
Butter + Furikake
Fried Egg + Chili Crisp
Fried Egg + Soy Sauce
Fried Egg + Kimchi
Fried Egg + Spam
Fried Egg (in sesame oil) + Dried Seaweed (also known as gyeran bap)
Fried or Scrambled Egg + Avocado
Melted Cheddar Cheese + Steamed Broccoli
Marinara Sauce + Melted Mozzarella Cheese
Black Beans + Taco Seasoning
Black Beans + Salsa
Steak + Chimichurri Sauce
Canned Tuna + Sriracha
Silken Tofu + Chili Oil
Chicken Nuggets + Teriyaki Sauce
Shrimp + Pesto (store-bought)
Cream + Brown Sugar

Would love to hear what R+2 combos you love in the comments!