Quinoa Taco
Quinoa Tacos
A few weeks I was working long hours and coming home late in the evening, so dinner was leftovers. We had chicken tacos over the weekend and made a huge amount of pick de gallo and guacamole. We also had a lot of extra corn tortillas. By the end of the week I ran out of chicken, but had a container of cooked quinoa in the refrigerator, hence quinoa tacos. Finding ingredients to put in a corn tortilla shell is a great way to clean out the refrigerator too.
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Quinoa Mango Yogurt Salad
Quinoa, Mango and Curried Yogurt Salad
Adapted from Gourmet Magazine
At first this dish may seem like an odd combination. I came across the recipe on Epicurious when I was try to find some more innovative dishes using quinoa. And, this one definitely caught my eye. It’s wonderfully refreshing. It’s also great because you can serve it warm, cold, or at room temperature and the leftovers are great. Sometimes I even make it a day ahead of time to let the flavors meld.
I’m not sure that I’ve ever actually used mint, since I don’t often have mint on hand. Basil works very well. The original recipe also called for a chopped jalapeno, which I have also never used. You could add it in, or also add in a pinch of cayenne pepper. The peanuts really do add a nice salty, roasted crunch to the dish. I think this salad would also be great placed in Napa cabbage leaves, or butter lettuce leaves, and wrapped up. Or, serve it on a bed of lettuce.
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Quinoa Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts
Quinoa Salad with Cranberries and Walnuts
I found this recipe awhile ago, but never wrote the source down. I’ve changed it here a bit. The original recipe calls for serving the dish cold, but I think it works hot as well. This dish would also be great with some crumbled blue cheese added in, or pecans instead of walnuts.
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Quinoa "Risotto"
Creamy Quinoa (“Risotto”)
Adapted from The Healthiest Meals on Earth
I was pleasantly surprised by the texture and taste of this dish. I really wasn’t expecting it to be like risotto, and in all actuality, it’s not. However, my husband even commented that it was a bit like risotto, without even seeing the recipe name. Cooking the grain in extra liquid helps make it more creamy and the grains kind of stick together, making it easier to eat. I liked the addition of the various vegetables and legumes, which turns quinoa into a one-pot meal.
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Coconut Curry Kale and Quinoa Salad
Coconut Curry Kale and Quinoa Salad
Adapted from The Healthiest Meals on Earth by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S
I like this refreshing take on quinoa and kale. I find I always end up using plain quinoa as a quick side dish and always serve cooking greens sautéed with garlic. I’m hoping this dish will inspire me to come up with some other creative uses for quinoa and kale.
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