Need some quinoa ideas, please!

dubgnyc513 · March 2013

Small quinoa salad, sorry i don't know calories or proportions but I use about 1 cup of cooked quiona with a half avocado, some cherry tomatoes, cucumber and a half teaspoon of olive oil. It is a great compliment to any fish or chicken dish.

mjlong · March 2013

Bump! YUM. Going to the store tonight!!

Schmidt722 · March 2013

Use my favorite cooking website: www.epicurious.com

Search quinoa (or anything you like) and you'll get a list of recipes that include that ingredient. The results can also be filtered to show just the healthy recipes, which are the ones with a broccoli icon. Best cooking database that I know of, and the recipes for the most part will only call for fresh ingredients (no cans of mushroom soup or the like).

pilarg18 · March 2013

From the New York Times (and super yummy)

Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients
- 3/4 cups uncooked quinoa
- 4 large red or yellow bell peppers
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 ounces cremini or button mushrooms, sliced (about 1 cup)
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
- 14 ounces diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped, or 1 tsp dried
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black ground pepper
- 2 cups marinara sauce, for serving

Preparation
∙Preheat oven to 350°F.
∙In a small saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Place the quinoa in a strainer and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear. Stir the quinoa into the boiling water, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
∙Meanwhile, use a sharp paring knife to cut out the core from the peppers. Pull out any seeds and rinse the peppers inside and out. Place them cut side down on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high power until slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Set aside to cool.
∙In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion, mushrooms, garlic, and crushed red pepper, if using. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are golden brown, about 8 minutes.
∙Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the zucchini, tomatoes, oregano, and salt and pepper and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in the quinoa and remove the pan from the heat.
∙Place the peppers cut side up in a medium roasting pan. Spoon the filling into the peppers and fill the pan with water 1/2 inch deep. Bake until the peppers are tender and the top of the filling is lightly browned and crunchy, about 30 minutes.
∙Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the marinara over low heat. When the peppers are cooked, place one on each of four plates. Spoon the sauce alongside or on top and serve.
Makes 4 servings.

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins

Nutrition Facts
Number of Servings: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 297.9
Total Fat: 7.9 g
Sodium: 563.9 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 49.1 g
Protein: 9.7 g

TinaBean007 · March 2013

Love quinoa! I make cold salads all the time, no recipe just throw it together. Here are some of my favs:

- tomatoes, cucumbers, mozzarella, balsamic, basil (optional) salt & pepper to taste
- apples, sweet balsamic (or regular), dried cranberries, almonds
- tomatoes, bell peppers, red onion, black beans, corn, cumin, cilantro, lime juice

Let them set for about 30mins - 1 hr

Cooked quinoa- can make it anyway you make rice. I love it with sauteed onions and peppers and cooked with chicken broth and a little butter. Comes out creamy.

KatLifter · March 2013

Mix in some shrimp, lemon, and chilis. Simple healthy shrimp scampi.

TinaBean007 · March 2013

Mix in some shrimp, lemon, and chilis. Simple healthy shrimp scampi.

**** Drool.... I think I decided what's for dinner.

Jessiebell527 · March 2013

I made Zucchini Turkinoa (Turkey + Quinoa ) Tacos!

Cut your zucchinis in halves (length wise) and hollow out the seeded area to create a "boat"

Cook some quinoa (amount varies), add cooked quinoa into a pan with already pan fried ground turkey. Add veggies and taco season (anything you want really). Fill zucchini boat with the mixture and sprinkle with cheese.

Bake at 350 in the oven until zucchini looks cooked and cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream and/or salsa!

YUM!

^^This sounds awesome!!!

nklunk · March 2013

I like to sautee kale then top it with quinoa a turkey burger and salsa...yummy
For breakfast I do the same just add egg whites instead of the turkey burger.

PeriEP · March 2013

Cook according to directions with whatever you have and add some curry or powdered cumin, garlic/onion powder. Yummy!

denitraross · March 2013

bump!

Laura_beau · March 2013

I use quinoa to thicken soups & stews

as a quinoa 'risotto' primavera is my absolute favourite way to eat it though

) Add a little extra stock/broth, some sauteed garlic and a good dollop of pesto & parmesan, some peas/ spinach/asparagus/broad beans & black pepper. YUM.

Or make any kind of risotto style- mixed mushrooms, or butternut & sage, or smoked bacon & sweetcorn. Add a dollop of low fat cream cheese for extra creaminess.

marieann82 · March 2013

Quinoa Quiche! As it bakes the quinoa falls to the bottom and makes a crust. I use this recipe at Fit Sugar but add whatever veggies, meat, cheese I have hanging in the fridge.

Here is the link: http://www.fitsugar.com/Healthy-Quinoa-Egg-Bake-Recipe-26947762

Papillon22 · March 2013

thanks for the great recipes, everyone!

michelefrench · March 2013

lunch today was smoked paprika quinoa stuffed portabella mushroom..it was delicious and wicked filling!!

LifeChanged2000 · March 2013

bump...I started another thred not looking for this one first. ooops

NovemberJune · March 2013

Here's one I have tried twice recently. I'd go with your eggs and peppers and mushrooms

http://www.fitsugar.com/Healthy-Quinoa-Egg-Bake-Recipe-26947762

salcha76 · March 2013

I make mine w/chicken broth (low sodium or organic) and mix it in w/sauteed eggplant, ground turkey, and marinara sauce....you never know it's there! keep it on hand and mix it in with everything, you can't go wrong!

Maebnormal · March 2013

I had it in a salad and it was amazing. I want to try other recipes though.

kgalea · March 2013

So many great ideas...
I made a Quinoa Pudding last night (kind of like rice pudding) which turned out well. Recipe was found at http://www.quinoa.net/181.html

2 cups quinoa, cooked (basic recipe) ½ cups raisins
3 cups milk ½ cup shredded coconut
1/3-cup honey or ½ cup brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla
½ cup almonds or walnuts, ground 3 eggs, beaten
½ tsp cinnamon 1/8 tsp salt
½ tsp lemon or orange rind, grated 1 Tbs butter 1 tsp lemon juice

Combine all ingredients. Pour into greased baking dish or greased individual custard cups. Bake in 350-degree oven until set, about 45 minutes. Serve hot or cold, topped with yogurt, cream or apple juice. Serves 4-6.

This recipe was borrowed from an old favorite that originally called for rice. Quinoa substitutes nicely to almost any recipe designed for rice.

I didn't follow it exactly as I didn't have coconut, lemon/orange, but it still was great!

ctpeace · March 2013

My husband's from Ecuador, where the indigenous have been eating quinoa for a very long time! His grandma makes the most amazing soup, here's a basic summary:

Wash the quinoa a couple of times if you didn't buy pre-washed (it naturally has a soapy coating on the outside that needs to be gotten rid of)

Make a "refrito" : Basically cook down some onions in red oil (it has achiote/annato, or make your own with the mexican powdered version of this) as well as some red pepper and garlic and a bit of salt. add some beef for flavor (like soup-bone type pieces) and potato chunks for texture. Add your quinoa and water and let it simmer forever! You'll know when you're getting close because it looks like porridge and the quinoa "pearls" are pretty dissolved and you mostly just see the little filament part of the grain. It tastes amazing due to slow-cooking and is about as authentic as you get.

Also, substitute cooked quinoa for the bulghur in any tabbuleh recipie!

lilred806 · March 2013

Quinoa made with a little chicken broth and sprinkle some Tony's Cajun seasoning. Easy and yummy.

life99joy · March 2013

While i love quinoa, i find bulgur to be more nutritious. Bulgur has less calories and more fiber and you can make exactly the same recipes with it.

fancyladyJeri · March 2013

Love quinoa. It makes a fabulous salad. Add what ever vegetables you feel like, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, etc., etc. I add 1/4 cup of cooked quinoa (always in the fridge)' add a dressing like Kraft Zesty Italian and sprinkle a little hot ginger sauce mix it up.

I find it is very satisfying.

Jeri

phangirl8 · March 2013

I like to make "fried quinoa" similar to fried rice. Basically I just make a couple portions of quinoa according to package directions. Cook meat in a large skillet if you want it in there, add whatever veg you'd like and the cooked quinoa. Scramble 1-2 eggs in a dish and pour over the quinoa. Add some soy sauce. I cook mine until its pretty crispy, but as long as the egg is done you can remove it whenever you'd like.

Thanks so much for that idea! I love egg fried rice and egg fried noodles and struggle to know what to really do with quinoa. Just tried this out, I put some soy sauce in the water when I made up the quinoa then threw it in the wok with a couple of beaten eggs and some vegetables and it was amazing

It was quite filling as well, I'll definitely be making that again.

Kifissia · March 2013

I toast it, use stock (chicken, veg) instead of water, mushrooms and onions (sauteed). That's my favorite version so far. I've tried it with cranberries, cinnamon and toasted almonds too (chicken stock) . Didn't like that version much.