Thrifster: Quinoa the (affordable) Mother Grain
Nothing says healthy good eating like a bowl full of Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah). It is a perfect food. The Mother Grain. A sacred Incan crop. And absolutely delicious.
With the highest protein of any grain, all 8 amino acids, Vitamins A and E, calcium, fiber and more... it is a complete protein and a versatile ingredient to substitute for most rice, pasta and even ground meat-based sides and entrees.
And best of all, you can buy it in bulk for about $2 - 3 a pound. Given that a cup of this gorgeous stuff will get you pretty far, that's a phenomenal deal for a tasty grain with just the right amount of bite to it.
Here's a great recipe I made the other night, after suffering from severe Freebird's Burrito Bowl cravings. Eet smakelijk! :
happykatie's Scrumptious Burrito Quinoa Bowl
--> 1st prep the quinoa
1 Cup quinoa (rinsed a few times to get rid of that bitter coating)
2 Cups of veggie or mushroom broth
Place the quinoa and the broth in a pot - your quinoa will double in size as it cooks, so judge your pot size accordingly. Cover and bring to a boil and immediately bring back down to a simmer. Simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes. I like to stir occasionally and season to taste with garlic salt, dried basil, poultry seasoning, whatever...
--> 2nd prep your veggie mixture
Half a large white/yellow onion, cut intro thin strips
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 red/green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1/2 carton of your favorite mushroom blend, sliced
2 small zuchinni, diced
1/2 Cup veggie broth or juice from can of tomatoes
(optional) 1 - 1 1/2 Cups of chopped seitan
Saute your onion, garlic and bell pepper in oil (try coconut or substitute water instead), stirring regularly and adding broth as needed for moisture, for 8-10 minutes. Toss in your mushrooms, zuchinni, seitan and any other veggies you love until the onions and peppers are nice and soft - everything else should be nicely browned and flavorful. Season to taste as needed, with whatever you've got that makes you smile.
--> 3rd prep your bean mixture
1 can of black beans, drained
1 cup of frozen corn
1 can of Mexican flavored diced tomatoes
1 small jalapeno, leave some seeds for heat and dice
Simmer all of your bean mixture ingredients in a covered pot on Medium for 10 - 15 minutes. Make sure you give plenty of time to meld those flavors together and get everything all one temperature. Season generously, be creative.
--> Put it all together
Layer your quinoa, veggie saute and bean mixture in a bowl. The more the better, seriously. Garnish with freshly cut tomatoes, fresh cilantro, a bit of chopped raw onion, avocado, garlic and jalapeno, a dollop of Tofutti sour cream, your spiciest and tastiest salsa and finally a sprinkle of shredded rice cheese (I prefer the mozzarella flavoring on most anything). A little dried cilantro, basil, dash of red chili powder and garlic salt never hurt either.
Drench your creation in a Tablespoon or two of a nice fresh lime - that's the kicker. Enjoy your bowl of deliciousness with a cold beer or a nice sipping glass of Patron. Voila - no waiting in line at Freebirds and no shelling out $9 for a less tasty and less healthy version of one of the greatest foods ever.
