New to Quinoa--what is your fav. recipe using it?

Kimberrh6

I've never tried quinoa before and am intimidated by it. How do you fix it?

Laurenmp16

I do sort of a 'southwestern quinoa' but don't have a recipe really, so I'll give the you jist.

Rinse the quinoa, put water and quinoa in saucepan (2 parts water to 1 part quinoa) and bring to boil, reduce, cover and simmer. Stir frequently so it won't stick to your saucepan. It normally takes about 20 minutes to absorb most of the water - you'll see a ring around the quinoa as it soaks up the water and cooks. - While it's boiling I add minced garlic and chili powder

Once it's cooked, you can mix in whatever. I put in precooked fake chicken, fresh mozzarella shredded, black beans, onions and then mix salsa into the whole thing.


I've also done a 'caprese' verison with basil, big chunks of mozzarella and cherry tomatoes and serve it cold.

Red_Sparrow

Some quinoa you can buy is pre-soaked, and some isn't - so if you make some and it ends up with a bitter flavor, it needs to be soaked for several hours (a lot of people just do it overnight). Usually the stuff you buy in bulk at the health food store needs to be soaked. If you cook it in a rice cooker, you won't need to pre-soak it in my experience.

Otherwise, really, I just use it as a rice substitute. I make a standard fried "rice" like you normally would - just add your cooked quinoa, chicken, pork, shrimp, vegetables, soy sauce, whatever to a pan. Only difference is to cook the egg separately from the quinoa instead of breaking it in the pan, it binds up strangely for some reason.

^^Totally going to try that southwestern quinoa, sounds yummy!

Sevio

Tons of Quinoa recipes on Pinterest! I love it!! So versatile. I have replaced rice with it. Usually I cook some up for the week, add precooked chicken, and veggies with maybe a little teriyaki sauce and it's easy and yummy!

tinyfitlauren

Google "Skinnytaste Mediterannean Quinoa", its really light and fresh tasting while still being satisfying. I make it all the time!

For something more substantial I make 1 cup of quinoa (turns into 3 cups), dress the quinoa in a dressing of honey, lemon, and olive oil (1 tbsp olive oil, equal parts honey and lemon, I use 2 tbs each, until desired flavor), salt and pepper, then add 1/3 cup dried cranberries, 1 apple cut into cubes, 1/4 cup slivered almonds, 1/4 cup cilantro.
- I will alter this one sometimes by replacing the lemon with balsamic vinegar and adding jarred sun dried tomatoes

ETA: My sister makes an AMAZING quinoa by using chicken broth (vegetable broth also works) instead of water to cook it. Then add whatever you feel like. Super flavorful and delicious

EmmaOnTrack

I've taken to just chucking a cup of it in to any curries or morrocan casserole I make in the crock pot. Makes a total meal in one and adds a really lovely nutty flavour and interesting texture.

jfp420

This one is yummy: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quinoa-and-black-beans/ .

tinyfitlauren

I've taken to just chucking a cup of it in to any curries or morrocan casserole I make in the crock pot. Makes a total meal in one and adds a really lovely nutty flavour and interesting texture.

Great idea!!

KReduced

bump

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Here's my favorite:

http://practicalcookingforone.com/2012/03/06/shrimp-fried-quinoa/

I do break the egg right into the pan and I've never had an issue with doing it that way.

I also like this recipe:

http://www.cookingquinoa.net/quinoa-patties

And this one, although I didn't follow the recipe exactly, just the overall concept:

http://www.recipebyphoto.com/quinoa-stuffed-peppers/

Linbo93

I came into this thread to recommend the skinny taste Mediterranean recipe, and someone beat me to it! So, I'll second it. I make it several times a week as lunches!

MisterDerpington

Cook quinoa. Let cool. Mix together with:

feta
diced kalamata olives
chopped scallions
chopped/diced tomatoes
olive oil
parsley (dried or fresh)
salt
pepper

Eat.

EDIT: Just realized this is similar to the skinny taste one. I personally like scallions more than red peppers, but that's just me.

Ldenzel

My favorite is a Mexican Quinoa:

http://kitchensimplicity.com/mexican-quinoa-with-lazy-guacamole/

It is so easy to make and so good! We started making it instead of our normal "Taco Tuesday". :bigsmile:

letmebangbro

I just stick it in the rice cooker.
Cook it like rice.

Dump ketchup all over it and eat it.

Kimberrh6

I just looked up the Skinnytaste Mediterannean Quinoa Salad and it sounds amazing! Thanks for all the ideas! Quinoa will be conquered!

Kimberrh6

Yummy!!

Chelz2013

I cook quinoa in our rice cooker. SO easy! Prices vary by a lot. We try to buy at Costco. I agree with tons of recipes on Pinterest and agree with chicken stock/broth/bouillon.

EmmaOnTrack

Now that I think about it I should have added a cup to the Pineapple Chicken recipe from here that I cooked in the crock pot yesterday instead of serving it with rice.

Next time! For the record, that chicken dish is GOOD (I added an onion for crunch but otherwise exactly to the recipe).

NarneyK

Would you guys say it is similar to couscous or bulgar wheat?

brandil74

I make stuffed peppers with it. I use Quinoa and Turkey instead of rice and beef.

xlipservicex

I usually cook a bunch on the weekend and then we use it to make "fried rice"

We cook chicken strips with a pile of veggies and add the quinoa and some soy sauce and cook until it's hot. Super yum!

My best friend also eats quinoa instead of oatmeal because she's vegan and it's higher in protein than oatmeal! so you can have it for breakfast too!

Katrina_vw91

It's delicious if you make salads with it! Its a great rice substitute

JustAnotherGirlSuzanne

I eat it plain or mix in some veggies sometimes, but my favourite is when I mix in some Diana Chipotle marinating sauce. It's so good! My husband loves it too!

sistersyd

That "southwestern quinoa" sounds AWESOME!

PrincessYorga

I LOVE quinoa! I make variations on a quinoa veggie salad about once or twice a week. Usually I cut up cucumber, bell peppers, tomatoes, celery, and asparagus (or whatever floats your boat veggie wise - I like crunch lol) while my quinoa is cooking. Once it is cooked, I add all the veggies and use some sort of dressing to bind the quinoa and veggies. Lately I've been using either Annie's Tuscany Italian or Red Wine Vinaigrette and Olive Oil. Stir it all together and put in a storage container. Sprinkle grated parm and romano cheese over the top. Cover and chill for a few hours in the fridge. Then voila! Ready to eat. Yummy stuff! :-)

ETA: I don't really have a recipe per say - it's kinda a fly by the seat of my pants thing I make and it turns out differently every time. I usually use a whole cucumber, whole bell pepper, a couple of roma tomatoes, few stalks of celery, a bunch of asparagus. I only use a couple of tablespoons of dressing - doesn't take too much to bind it all together. And anywhere from 2-6 tablespoons of the parm/romano - just depends on my mood. It generally ends up that there are more veggies than quinoa lol. But it cuts down on the calories and I still get that wonderful quinoa in my life! :-) I think that one serving is usually about 150 calories - that's for 1 to 1.5 cups.

supposedtobeapril

My favorite thing to do (quick & simple & filling): take a sandwich bag, put in 3/4 cup cooked quinoa & 1/2 cup garbanzo beans (chickpeas), 1 teaspoon olive oil & some red wine vinegar (you don't have to put in the olive oil, sometimes I do, sometimes I don't).

Take it to work, eat it out of the baggie with a spoon. Amazing!

supposedtobeapril

I forgot, try this! (it's amazing, too!) Toss some in your "scrambled eggs". Here's what I do:

cook quinoa in my little rice cooker (like $12 at WalMart), portion into baggies, put in freezer (point being, have it cooked & ready to toss into something for a quick meal or boost to a meal....I do remember to put one in the fridge so that it's thawed & ready to use)

In microwave safe dish:
whip up 2 eggs with fork
toss in some quinoa (I use 1/4 cup cooked)
toss in 1/4 cup shredded cheese

Microwave 2 minutes, stir to mix up uncooked ingredients, microwave another minute (maybe) & let sit to finish cooking itself.

Eat it! It's amazing how the quinoa changes the texture and makes the eggs more filling and more amazing (and even more nutritious).

I am a chia seed freak, so I would also sprinkle a tablespoon on chia seeds on the top before eating (adds 5g of fiber, 5g of fat & Omega 3's). Plus, I can go 4-6 hours without feeling any hunger. Happy, happy, happy!

youngdreamer

I like to get the fettuccine-shaped quinoa pasta noodles & once cooked, mix them with some shaved asparagus or zucchini. After that I like to add some more fresh veggies into my low-sodium marinara sauce & maybe have a turkey sausage (italian-style) on the side w/some broccoli florets as another! Yum!

laceylucas86

i buy the presoaked quinoa at Cosco and cook it in my slow cooker (can use a rice cooker) then you have hot fluffy quinoa you can make sweet or savoury, make it into a breakfast porridge with raisins, apples, milk, cinnamon and brown sugar, I've baked it into mini muffins that have oats, shredded apple and cooked quinoa, i also like making a greek salad (fat free kraft Italian dressing, black olive, English cuke, tomato and feta mix it all up) it's versatile and yummy

kellyetaylorsmith

I usually add PB and honey to it for a morning meal! Love it!

youknowmynamelookupthenumber

This is a quinoa recipe that I love love love. It is so good you'll be scarfing it down!

Lemon Quinoa Cilantro Chickpea Salad


1/2 C. dry quinoa

2 C. vegetable broth (or chicken broth)

1 can garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)

1 c. cherry tomatoes cut in half (or grape tomatoes)

2 avocados diced

2 C. spinach

1 bunch cilantro

1/4 C. onion

2 small cloves garlic


For the dressing:

Juice of 2 lemons

zest of 1 lemon

2 tsp. dijon mustard

2 tsp. olive oil

1 tsp. agave nectar

1/2 tsp. cumin

dash of salt and pepper


1. Cook quinoa and broth according to package directions and let cool. Put garbanzo beans, chopped tomatoes and diced avocados in a serving bowl and set aside. Process spinach, cilantro, onion and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped. Add to chopped veggies.

2. Stir together dressing ingredients and pour over veggies. Stir in cooled quinoa and let sit in refrigerator for 10 minutes or up to 1 hour before serving so the flavors can marinate. Serve cold.

From www.thediva-dish.com