Quinoa & Black Beans

I had never heard of quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) until this past year, but I've really come to enjoy this wonderful grain. Quinoa is actually a seed that comes from a leafy plant similar to spinach, but it is commonly referred to as a grain. It's loaded with tons of protein so it's not necessary to serve quinoa with meat. This grain is also a great source of amino acids, iron, and fiber--it's full of healthy benefits. :-)

Quinoa has a subdued, nutty flavor. Cooking it in vegetable broth (or chicken broth) rather than water brings a lot of flavor to what can otherwise be a somewhat mild taste. Topping it with sliced avocado added wonderful texture and flavor that I wasn't expecting. You won't be disappointed in this dish. It's delicious!  

I made only a few, minor changes to the original recipe. I used olive oil instead of vegetable oil, and I added chopped tomatoes. I may add some olives and mushrooms the next I make this dish.  

Quinoa & Black Beans

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 Tablespoon lime juice
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 (15 ounce) cans of black beans, drained and rinsed (we used homemade black beans but canned works well too.)
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 ripe avocado, diced (optional, but I highly recommend.)
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparing quinoa takes some time, but it's actually very simple. Most boxed/pre-packaged quinoa has already been pre-rinsed. If your quinoa has not been pre-rinsed, you will need to remove the saponins. Just soak the quinoa in water for a few hours, then rinse the quinoa for several minutes in a fine strainer.

Directions:

 1.) Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and cook for a couple of minutes or until onion is soft. 

 2.) Add the pre-soaked/drained quinoa and vegetable broth to the pan. Add the cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil and then cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 minutes.

 3.) Stir in lime juice and frozen corn into the pan and simmer for 5 minutes or until corn is heated through. 

4.) Stir in the tomatoes, cilantro, and black beans. Simmer until beans are heated through.

 

5.) Put desired amount in bowl and top with diced avocado. Enjoy!

Recipe Source: Tablespoon