Quiet and Unassuming Quinoa

Quinoa brings out varied reactions from many bloggers.  Some share that they would like to make it but are a bit nervous about doing so.  Others can't stop raving about it.  Two very different reactions to one useful food item.

I have found quinoa to be quite unassuming.  It goes where you tell it to go.  You want it to be spicy, it picks up the flavor with easily.  If you want it bland, add very little to it.  Use it instead of rice, on occasion.

It is easy to make other than rinsing thoroughly.  I put it through a sifter three times.  I found my strainers have holes that allow the quinoa to fall right through.  The sifter catches it and is easy to handle.

Other than that, it is not time consuming and you need not fuss over it.  Just enjoy it and it will blend in with the other flavors on the plate.

Of course, you probably do not want your quinoa to be quiet and unassuming.  You want it to have a little heat or lots of flavor.  You want add-ins for texture.  You can play as much as you want with quinoa and most likely end with something delicious.

Waking Up Quinoa

Ingredients for two people:

1 -2 tablespoons olive oil
 2 cups boiling water
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2/3 cup mixed mushrooms, sliced
1/3 green pepper, chopped
8 grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup scallions, chopped
1  tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Method:

In medium saucepan, in olive oil, cook mushrooms, green pepper and scallions for three minutes.
Add quinoa and cook for 30 seconds.
Add boiling water and cook for 18 minutes.
Add tomatoes, soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and cook another 3 minutes until tomatoes are warm.
(I used my ice cream scoop to serve this.)




   Linked to Hearth and Soul 
Tuesday Tasty Tidbits at Permanent Posies   -    Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays  -  This Week's Cravings


Full Plate Thursday
Tasty Tuesdays - Beauty and Bedlam   
Real Food Wednesdays
AT Home with Haley  
Thursday Swap - Pioneer Story

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 28, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    Looks great! Since this Friday's ffwD is a quinoa recipe, I'm excited to see what you'll do there!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Shu HanMarch 29, 2011 at 9:56 AM

    I liek to use quinoa to replace rice sometimes when I do Chinese fried rice (: I also find quinoa goes very well with those Moroccan spices just like couscous!

    http://mummyicancook.blogspot.com/2010/12/moroccan-couscous-stuffed-chicken.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 29, 2011 at 12:13 PM

    Tasty! I love quinoa and I'm always looking for new recipes. I never would have thought to cook it like this!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Rivki LockerMarch 29, 2011 at 2:46 PM

    My problem with quinoa is that it gives me a dreadful stomach ache. Do you have that problem or know any way around it?

    ReplyDelete
  5. MicheleMarch 29, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    I agree completely - no quiet quinoa here ;) Your add-ins and recipe look fantastic.

    Thanks for linking to the Hearth and Soul Hop!

    Michele@FitFoodista

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tina @ MOMS CRAZY COOKINGMarch 29, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    Thanks so much for linking up to THIS WEEK’S CRAVINGS.

    We would like to invite you back next Monday for a new theme “Husband’s Cook”; so if you have a post already or want to get your significant other in the kitchen this week, next week’s linky party is gonna be loads of fun, I know I can’t WAIT to see what my “non-cooking husband is gonna make”!

    http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/search/label/THIS%20WEEKS%20CRAVINGS

    ReplyDelete
  7. HaleyLeannMarch 31, 2011 at 4:16 PM

    Yay! I just bought quinoa last night for the first time ever! I'm anxious to make something with it. Thanks for linking up on Recipes I Can't Wait to Try!

    ReplyDelete
  8. SharleneTApril 1, 2011 at 1:59 AM

    Quinoa is one of my favorites, too. Hello from Prairie Story Recipe Swap. Come visit when you can. Off to check out some of your other recipes.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Miz HelenApril 1, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    What a delicious Quinoa dish. This recipe is so full of flavor we would really enjoy it. Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousApril 12, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    I agree with you. I bookmarked this. I like it, it has protein and the consistancy is like coucous. I started started buying it and trying out recipe. If you have any other recipes that you would like to link up to my Workshop Wednesday @goobyecityhellosuburbs I would love to try them!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Kitty DeschanelMay 30, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    Yum! I'm always at a loss for what to do with quinoa :)

    ReplyDelete

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