An (Almost) Vegan Meal with Quinoa.

Good morning, everyone!  It's TGIF and I am happy!

The other night I made a delicious meal for my husband that was "almost" vegan.  The only item that was used to separate this meal from being completely vegan was chicken broth.  

For this dinner, I decided to use one of my favorite sources of protein, quinoa, and all I did was saute some veggies, plus add a few extras.  A cabbage salad and apple slices on the side made the meal complete.  

What is Quinoa? (pronounced keen-wa)

Although quinoa looks like a grain, it is an amino-rich seed that is actually a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard.  When cooked, it has a fluffy, creamy, slightly crunchy texture and a somewhat nutty flavor.  Not only is quinoa high in protein, it also contains the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair.  Quinoa is also a very good source of manganese as well as a good source of magnesium, folate, and phosphorus.  Finally, this "grain" may be especially valuable for people with migraine headaches and diabetes.

This recipe is incredibly easy to make and even more incredibly delicious! 

Quinoa with Sautéed Vegetables

1 cup quinoa

2 cups chicken broth (these two amounts are according to my bag of quinoa)

1 small onion, chopped

2 carrots, diced

½ of a yellow squash, diced

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

¼ cup edamame

½ cup feta cheese, crumbled

2 scallions, sliced

½ cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Chop all vegetables at once and set aside.  I think together they look like candy corn...

Heat the extra virgin olive oil and add veggies.  Saute until soft. 

Follow the instructions on the quinoa box or bag.  My particular bag of quinoa called for 1 cup of quinoa and 2 cups of liquid.  For added flavor, I used chicken broth.   

Bring the two ingredients to a boil, cover the pot, and reduce to low and let it simmer for 15 minutes.  

 

Once the quinoa is ready, fluff it with a fork and place it in a bowl.   

Add the sautéed vegetables, feta cheese, edamame, tomatoes, scallions, and vinegar.  Combine.  Salt and pepper to taste. 

You can use basically any vegetables you have in your fridge.  Just chop them up and sauté! 

I added a tossed cabbage salad and some apple slices…and we had a complete, healthy, and (almost) vegan dinner. 

Have a great Friday and enjoy!

Tracy