Quinoa, quinoa, quinoa! Once you get a handle on all the glorious ways to cook and thoroughly enjoy this special ancient grain, it can be somewhat intimidating. The name alone is off-putting but don’t let that stop you. In 15 minutes, you can steam up some quinoa and make it into one of the best quinoa recipes yet! Brighten up today’s lunch with an impressive array of good-for-you ingredients. Your mind and body will thank you.
This heart-healthy recipe deserves to be at the table as one of the best quinoa recipes. The quinoa in this recipe alone has dozens of health benefits. Quinoa is packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals and helps you feel fuller and more satisfied than most foods out there while packing a rich nutritional punch. Quinoa is also naturally gluten free and is a complete protein which your vegan and vegetarian friends and family will appreciate. Let’s just take a second to praise quinoa for all it has to offer! Get a healthy dose of iron, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin E, healthy fatty acids and again with that fiber. Quinoa is also great for those looking to get fit as it has a high protein to carbs ratio. Not to mention, it’s a great pre-workout food that will give you the energy you will need to push through.
As the weather starts to decline, it’s great having a nice colorful meal to remind you that summer will be back and better, it’s healthy so you can stay summer-ready all year round. Read below for one of the best quinoa recipes yet!
POMEGRANATES :: RED QUINOA :: PISTACHIOS :: GOAT CHEESE :: PICKLED BEETS IF YOU CAN HANDLE IT :: OPAL APPLES :: BABY SPINACH BUT NOT TOO MUCH BABY SPINACH :: LIGHT CHAMPAGNE VINAIGRETTE.
It’s loaded with bright green spinach, crispy bites of apple, juicy bursts of pomegranate, crunchy pistachio pieces, creamy-smooth goat cheese with just a little bite from the pickled beets if you’re brave enough for that sort of adult eating. It’s a plate (or MASON JAR) full of healthful, nutritious ingredients that give you tons of winter glow and plant power. Because, umm, yeah, that’s a real thing.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked quinoa
- 2 beets, trimmed and quartered
- Olive oil
- Sea salt
- 1/4 cup fruity olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- 2 teaspoons organic gluten-free tamari sauce
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon organic raw agave nectar or local honey
- 1 cup drained rinsed chick peas
- 2 big handfuls of baby spinach leaves
- Sea salt and ground pepper, to taste
- 1 fresh orange, peeled, trimmed, cut into bite sized pieces
