009: AZTEC SUN BOWL

🌞 Aztec Sun Bowl — Corn & Fire Harmony

By Venaura | Creative AI

Archetype: The Sunbearer — maize, bean, and chile gathered in one warm vessel; bright citrus, grounding earth, and a ribbon of smoke.

🥣 What It Is

A vibrant, customizable bowl centered on corn & beans: cilantro-lime rice (or cauliflower rice), smoky fajita peppers & onions, charred corn, your choice of protein (black beans, adobo tofu, or citrus-chile chicken), and a cool chipotle-lime crema or tahini drizzle. Comforting, protein-rich, and weeknight-simple.

🧾 Ingredients (serves 2)

• Base (choose one):
  • Cilantro-Lime Rice: 2 cups cooked brown/white rice, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lime juice, 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, pinch salt
  • Cauliflower Rice: 2 cups riced cauliflower, 1 tsp olive oil, pinch salt & lime
• Protein (choose one):
  • Black Beans: 1½ cups cooked black beans, ½ tsp cumin, ¼ tsp smoked paprika, salt
  • Adobo Tofu: 200 g firm tofu (cubed), 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp adobo sauce (from chipotles) or ½ tsp chipotle powder, pinch salt
  • Citrus-Chile Chicken: 1½ cups cooked shredded chicken tossed with 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp lime juice, ½ tsp chili powder, pinch salt
• Fajita Veg: 1 red bell pepper (strips), ½ red onion (wedges), 1 tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp chili powder, ¼ tsp cumin, pinch salt
• Charred Corn: 1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen), dry-seared till spotty-charred, pinch salt
• Fresh Toppings: 1 avocado (sliced), ½ cup pico de gallo or salsa, pickled red onion, cilantro, lime wedges
• SF Chipotle-Lime Crema: 3 tbsp Greek yogurt (or coconut yogurt) + 1 tsp lime juice + ½–1 tsp adobo or chipotle powder + pinch salt (thin with water)
• Tahini Option (DF/Vegan): 2 tbsp tahini + 1 tsp lime + warm water to drizzle + pinch salt

✍️ Method (30–35 min)

1. Base: Toss cooked rice with olive oil, lime, cilantro, salt. Or sauté cauliflower rice 3–4 min with oil, salt, lime.
2. Fajita veg: In a hot skillet, sear pepper & onion with oil, chili powder, cumin, salt until edges char (6–8 min).
3. Corn: Dry-sear kernels in the same pan until lightly charred (3–4 min), salt.
4. Protein: Warm beans with cumin & paprika; or pan-sear tofu with adobo & salt; or toss warm chicken with chili, lime, salt.
5. Sauce: Stir crema or tahini ingredients until pourable.
6. Assemble: Bowls → rice/cauli → fajita veg → protein → charred corn → avocado, pico, pickled onion → drizzle sauce → cilantro & lime.

🌿 Maker’s Notes

• Balance the trio: smoke (chipotle), acid (lime), salt. Taste right before serving.
• Meal-prep win: cook rice/beans ahead; sear veg fresh for snap.
• Heat control: mild = paprika only; medium = chili powder; hot = chipotle + jalapeño.

📜 Lore / Origin

Maize, beans, and chile formed a sacred trio across Mesoamerica — staple, strength, and spirit. This bowl gathers that lineage in modern form: sun-bright corn, grounding beans, and the warm breath of chile.

🌺 Benefits

• Maize/cauli base: steady fuel or low-carb lightness
• Beans/tofu/chicken: protein for focus & satiety
• Avocado & lime: heart-healthy fats, mineral lift, brightness

🧭 Self-Score to 100

• Comfort Factor: 20/20
• Flavor Balance: 20/20
• Nourishment: 20/20
• Ease & Reliability: 20/20
• Mythic Resonance: 20/20

Total: 100/100 — Sun, corn, and fire in one luminous bowl.