Monday, August 9, 2010

Quinoa with Roasted Vegetables and Spinach

This tasty side dish packs an incredible amount of flavor and healthfulness into each and every bite. I figured I should post this recipe so that you wouldn't think that everything I make contains bacon or butter! Believe me, you won't miss either in this recipe. Quinoa is one of those superfoods that seems like a grain but is really a protein. Mixed with iron-rich spinach, vegetables roasted in olive oil and nutty parmesan cheese, you will love this recipe as much as I do. Feel free to swap out vegetables to your liking; once you get the idea down, you can try so many different variations!
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 cups beef broth
1 cup of fresh spinach (this will wilt down significantly)
1/4 cup red pepper, diced
1/4 cup green pepper, diced
1/8 cup parmesan (get the good stuff!)
3 tbsp. olive oil
1/8 cup cream (optional)
2 cloves garlic, smashed
Kosher salt, black pepper


Assembly:
Rinse the quinoa. Bring the beef broth to a boil then add the quinoa. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for approximately 15 minutes or until the quinoa fluffs nicely with a fork. While the quinoa is cooking, saute the spinach and garlic in 1 tbsp. olive oil until just wilted. Discard the garlic. Roast the peppers with 2 tbsp. olive oil in a 400 degree oven for approximately 5-8 minutes. Put the peppers and spinach (along with their cooking liquids) into the quinoa and gently stir. Add the parmesan, salt, pepper and cream then stir to combine. Serve warm.

7 comments:

Nina said...

I've never had quinoa but have wanted to try it. Now I know how exactly to fix it. You make the most delicious things. :)

The Happiest Belly on the Block! said...

Thanks, Nina! You'll laugh when I tell you how this recipe came to be. I actually made a huge batch for my 15 month old! I figured it'd be a great baby dish because it's got a protein, some dairy and lots of veggies. She adores it, and I was very pleasantly surprised when I tasted it for the first time. :)

Anonymous said...

WOW! I most certainly missed this one! Can't wait to try it. New kitchen appliance from this fall, here we go...

Yum.

For Such A Time As This said...

THAT sounds fabulous!! Can not wait to try it.

The Happiest Belly on the Block! said...

Hope you enjoy it, Shelby! :)

For Such A Time As This said...

Just made your quinoa dish! LOVE it. I don't eat peppers, so I sauteed eggplant with the spinach. It was fabulous. Hope you don't mind my sharing it.

The Happiest Belly on the Block! said...

Hi Shelby~ So glad to hear it turned out well for you! I love getting feedback :) I'm going to have to try adding eggplant~ so yummy!