Meat-Free Mondays - Herb Veggie Quinoa Pilaf
I love quinoa (pronounced KEEN-WAH), it’s inexpensive, it’s a good source of protein, it has a nice fresh taste, a great chewy texture, and it’s really easy to make.
Ancient Harvest Quinoa has a story about the history of quinoa on the box and refers to it as “The Supergrain of the Future.” This has become an ongoing joke in our house:
“What are we having for dinner tonight?”
“The Supergrain . . . of the Future!” said in an announcer-y voice like the scientist from the cryogenics lab on Futurama (”Welcome to the world of tomorrow!”).
Okay, so you have to be there.
Anyway, quinoa makes a great side dish. You can easily substitute it for rice or couscous. But last week, one of my favorite bloggers, Parikha from sixoneseven, put up a recipe for Herb Veggie Quinoa Pilaf that turns quinoa into the main event. It looks like such a simple, healthy meal, and I can’t wait to try it.
If you’re hesitant about quinoa, at least go take a look at the picture of the meal on her website. It makes me hungry just looking at it.
Hope you enjoy the Supergrain . . . of the Future!
March 17th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I LOVE quinoa! I have the best muffin recipe for it that I’ll send you. I’m definitely going to be trying that recipe. mmm.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I like quinoa, but it’s not sold by my local grocer. Boo! Also, the name is not recognized by Firefox spell check. I think we have some work to do to get these things done.
I totally get what you mean about future food. I can’t wait until the future when we’re all eating Dippin Dots. I wonder about that each time I’m in the mall.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Hahaha. Dippin Dots. I tried them once. I didn’t like the way they stuck to my tongue. I hope that’s not all we get to eat in the future.
We should totally start some kind of organization for quinoa awareness.
Rach, I’d love the recipe! Please do send it!
March 17th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
DIPPIN’ DOTS! We have all apparently been making that joke since 1989. I know I have. The future still isn’t here, though, ’cause I’ve never had them.
Nor have I had quinoa, but I’ll have to give it a shot sometime.
March 17th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I made something like this for dinner just last night! I happened to have some kale, carrots, and cooked chickpeas that needed using up. Threw in onion and garlic, and some parsnips I had gotten that morning, put it all over quinoa and called it dinner. It was tasty, but it could’ve used cheese.
And Noelle, you’re right! How is this the first time I’ve noticed Firefox’s glaring oversight?
March 18th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Thanks Allie! Glad you enjoyed the recipe
March 18th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I love quinoa too! Its also a COMPLETE protein, which means that it provides the eight amino acids that our body cannot produce on its own (we need to get it from food).