On my list of recipes to try this year is quinoa. I have never cooked (in fact, never even tasted) quinoa. So this evening I took the big leap and decided to cook with it. Since I did not know what it tasted, I decided to keep it simple by adding a few vegetables cooking it in some chicken broth to add some taste.
I was very pleased with the results. The quinoa tasted great hot, but I wanted to try a salad so that I could take it to work the next day. I was very happy with this first go around. Here is the recipe of ingredients I threw together.
Quinoa Salad
1 cup quinoa
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup diced peppers (I used a combination of orange and green)
1/2 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup purple onion, chopped
2 tablespoons italian dressing
Place the uncooked quinoa and 2 cups of chicken broth in a saucepan. The quinoa looked like bird seed to me, I was surprised how small it was.
Cook until broth and quinoa start to boil.
Cover and simmer about 11-13 minutes. It should look like this.
Let it sit a minute and fluff. When quinoa cools, add remaining ingredients.
Chill at least 1 hour.
Enjoy!
Have you oooked with quinoa before?
Caryn/The Mid Life Guru says
Love quinoa. I use it in salads too but try to add it in everything I can. Easy to do when you cook up a batch at the beginning of the week and have it ready to go in the fridge.
jamiegall1930 says
I love how quinoa starts as little seeds then puffs up. I’ve been wanting to create a salad with it lately too. I’ll be added fruit into mine =) PS: Looks good, btw!! lol
Organizedisland says
Yes, it is so interesting how it cooks. I love the idea of adding fruit Jamie! Please share your recipe when you put it together.
Linda says
Quinoa is new to me too. I like the sound of this salad. Thanks so much for sharing this. I’ll be giving this a try. Sounds cool for this heat!
Wishes for tasty dishes,
Linda
Tumbleweed Contessa
Organizedisland says
Thank you Linda! Yes I especially love salads in the summer time.
Tamara says
I love your picture of the veggies to add – looks like a rainbow. I’d never heard of quinoa until several years ago in San Francisco at a BBQ. Someone made it in a salad somewhat like this recipe. I loved it! I didn’t even realize all of the ways people use it – as breakfast, as a rice-like component, in cookies, etc.
Organizedisland says
Really they use it in cookies? I had no idea. I really liked it as well.
Meg, Happy Kids, Inc (@happykidsinc) says
Yes, use quinoa regularly! It actually works great as a breakfast cereal instead of oatmeal. Cook it and add a little maple syrup and blueberries…delish! Look for quinoa flakes in the bulk foods section for a creamier cereal.
I love cold salads, too. For some reason, finely diced cucumbers and fresh cilantro taste amazing with quinoa…they would be a great addition to what you have here.
Finally, I add it to vegetarian chili to make it heartier and I blend it into black beans and other beans when we do “taco night”, to add extra nutrients to the meal.
I was dropping by to say “thank you” for linking up on my Bloglovin Blog Hop.
Have a great night,
Meg
Happy Kids, Inc
Organizedisland says
I love the idea of it as a breakfast Meg! I love all of your suggestions. I am so late to the quinoa party! 🙂 Happy Weekend!
Cafe Pasadena says
Yes, I have cooked Quinoa before! Love it. A wonderful elegant taste and protein. Seems to go with a lot of foods.
Organizedisland says
Yes, where has this been all these years? Love it as a source of protein!
Susan says
I’ve never cooked quinoa before, but this sounds and looks so delicious that I’m going to have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday at Organized 31.