Recipe for Quinoa | Imamother

tamarmom

Thu, May 03 2012, 3:17 pm

70ml olive oil
3 sliced fennel bulbs
1 small spoon caster sugar
3 small spoons cider vinegar
Salt/ pepper
150g quinoa
300g broad beans
1 green chopped chillo
1½ small spoons cumin
25g mint
25g coriander
25g dill
3 limes

- 50ml oil in pan, add the fennel and cook lowish for 15 minutes (may need longer) until golden. Add sugar, vinegar salt , stir on heat for a few mins then take off

- make the quinoa , make sure it doesnt go too soft and add to fenel.

- cook the beans in a pot of boling water for a few mins, take off, drain and remove the skins then stir into the quinoa, add the cumin and herbs, salt/pepper to taste

- remove skin and pith from limes , slice into segments cut the segments up and add to salad with any juice

- add more oil if dry

Imma2+2

Thu, May 03 2012, 4:30 pm

Cook the quinoa according to directions on the box.
When cooked, add a can of pasta sauce. Heat through and top with grated cheese.
That's my basic recipe, but when I have time, I saute onions, mushrooms, or other veggies.
I like at add something with crunch, too, like pumpkin or sunflower seeds. I bet almonds (slivered or sliced) would be delicious, too!

Gsanmb

Thu, May 03 2012, 6:32 pm

Quinoa is a really versatile food. You can use it to replace rice in just about any recipe. It also works great for Tabouli (instead of couscous).

To make basic quinoa and have it on hand:

Rinse the quinoa you want to use right before using it (gets rid of the saponin which is a coating that can make it taste bitter).

Use a 1cup to 2 cup ratio of quinoa to liquid. (I.e. 1 cup quinoa/2 cups liquid). I like to cook mine in vegetable broth, and add some spices like turmeric, salt, pepper, and some crushed garlic. Gives it lots of flavor.

Then you have a really nice amount of quinoa to use in whatever you want. But here is a great 'quinoa salad' recipe I love:

Dressing:
2 cloves minced garlic
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup orange juice
1/3 cup reserved mandarin orange juice (from can, oranges used in salad)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp black pepper

Salad:
2 cups quinoa
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained (reserve juice)
1 can drained chickpeas or 1 cup cooked
1 cup scallions, chopped
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1/2 cup craisins, or raisins, or chopped dates, or whatever
toasted almonds if you like them.

Prepare quinoa with 4 cups liquid and let cool. Mix all the salad ingredients together. Whisk together the dressing and pour over the salad, mix well.

It tastes better if you do it a bit in advance and let it absorb the flavors, but add the craisins and nuts right before serving so they don't get soggy.