A Few Things You Can do with Quinoa

Quinoa is the vegetarian's best friend because it's a complete protein in the grain family. It's also best buds for people who are gluten-free. That makes this assemblage of things you can do with quinoa a great dish for potlucks because you can feed people who can't eat the other stuff on the buffet. If you leave out the nuts or leave them on the side for people to add you're almost 100% home free on food sensitivities.

This is really approximate because I don't actually use a recipe.

2 c. quinoa

1 can garbanzo beans (or 2 if you really like garbanzos), drained/rinsed

3 T. pine nuts (could substitute slivered or chopped almonds)

4-5 green onions, chopped w/green tops

Approx 1 c. chopped celery

You could also add some carrot—I’d probably grate it for a change of shape from the chopped things

Curry option

The seasonings are REALLY approximate—taste and adjust after you mix everything up.

2 t. curry

¾ t. coriander

¾ t. cardamom

Dash of cloves

1 t. salt

½ t. pepper (or white pepper if you have it because that hides nicely in the pale ingredients)

Cook the quinoa with 4 c. water and the seasonings for 15 min. Toss with all the other ingredients. Taste, and sprinkle in a bit more of the various seasonings if it doesn’t seem zingy enough. I find curry kind of raw-tasting if it isn’t cooked and mellowed out, which is why I put the seasonings in the cooking water.

Something I didn’t add that could be kind of fun: chipotle or chili powder in place of the regular pepper.

Sweet option

Another direction I’ve gone with the same basic ingredients listed above:

Add ½ c. or more craisins or currants

Change seasonings to cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt

Add approx. 1/3 c. honey

This is kind of like a salad I got at some airport that I was trying to replicate.