“Cozy Quinoa”

Posted by natalie on March 15, 2011 in Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, The Food Magician | 2 comments

This recipe was featured on Hallmark’s Home & Family!

Quinoa is one of my favorite foods to cook and to devour. Not only does it taste good but it’s one of the best things you can feed your body.  It’s high in protein, contains 9 essential amino acids and is gluten free. Quinoa was also the most sacred grains of the Ancient Incas (although it’s really a seed) and is extremely versatile and keeps well for leftovers.

I use quinoa as a side dish or a main dish, but you can also use it in soups, salads and breakfast dishes.

Try this easy recipe as a side dish along side fish, poultry or meat.

All you need is:

• 2 Cups of water
• 1 Cup of dry quinoa (red, white or tri-colored)
  
• 2 Tbp olive oil 
• 2 handfuls of fresh spinach
  
• 2 handfuls of chopped, de-stemed kale
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 C. Three Cheese Spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 C. of crumbled feta cheese
• Red Pepper Flakes to taste
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 1 chicken breast, cooked and diced (optional)

Follow the instructions on the box of quinoa. Once quinoa is done, add spinach in pot and cover until wilted.

Then add olive oil, salt & pepper, red pepper flakes, walnuts, spaghetti sauce and feta. Stir in until all is mixed together. The feta should be melting and you can always top it off with more feta once you serve. If you have broccoli, kale or chard in the house, use that instead or combine two.  Just make sure you cook those veggies first.