Quinoa: 10 recipes. Mastering pilaf, salads, soups, casseroles and desserts

Quinoa (quinoa, quinoa) is a grain crop with an ancient origin.

In the Inca civilization, quinoa was one of the three main types of food along with corn and potatoes. The Incas called it “the golden grain”.

Quinoa is one of the TOP-20 healthiest foods in the world. Quinoa contains more protein than any other grain. The protein content reaches 16-17% (as in meat).

Also, quinoa is rich in fiber, B vitamins, phosphorus, iron, calcium and zinc.

We offer you 10 varied and delicious recipes with such unique and healthiest cereals as quinoa.

Quinoa basic recipe

Rinse 1 glass of quinoa, add cold water in a ratio of 1 (quinoa): 1.5 (water). Put on the stove. Bring to a boil, add 0.3-0.5 teaspoon of salt. Simmer on the lowest heat, covered for 15-20 minutes, until all the water is absorbed. Stir. When cooked, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5-6 days.

Quinoa with vegetables

• onion - 1 pc.
• garlic - 2 cloves
• carrots - 1 pc.
• zucchini, zucchini - 1 pc.
• bell pepper sweet - 1 pc.
• salt, black pepper (ground) - to taste
• olive oil to taste.

Cook the basic recipe for quinoa. Dice the onion and finely chop the garlic. Cut carrots, zucchini and peppers into cubes or sticks.

Heat olive oil in a deep frying pan. Add carrots, fry and sauté for about 7 minutes, covered. Add onion, fry, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Add garlic (you can do without it), sauté for another 1 minute. Add zucchini and pepper, sauté for 5-7 minutes until vegetables are ready. Add a little salt, black pepper. Add cooked quinoa to vegetables. Stir and warm up.

Quinoa salad with cucumbers and tomatoes

• 1 glass of quinoa
• 1.5 cups of water
• 1 lemon or lime
• 1/4 cup or less olive oil
• 1-2 pcs. sweet white onion, finely chopped 2-4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 bunch of parsley, chopped
• 1-2 cucumbers, cut into 1 cm cubes
• 4 cream tomatoes, cut into 1 cm cubes
• sea ​​salt to taste

Make a basic recipe for quinoa. Put quinoa in a bowl; cool and add lemon juice, salt and olive oil. Add chopped onion, garlic and parsley and mix well. Add tomatoes and cucumbers. Mix everything thoroughly.

Quinoa pilaf with chicken

• quinoa - 1.5-2 cups
• chicken (legs, thighs - 4 - 6 pcs.)
• onions - 1-2 pcs.
• carrots - 2-3 pcs.
• tomato - 3 - 6 pcs.
• hot pepper - 1 pc.
• garlic - 1 pc.
• cumin (cumin) - 1/2 tsp
• coriander - 1/2 tsp
• ghee - 50 ml
• cilantro to taste
• black pepper, salt to taste.

Cut the chicken meat from the bone, peel the skin and tendons, cut into small pieces. Fry over high heat in oil, add carrots (straws), after a couple of minutes add spices and quickly fry, add onions (in thin half rings). After a few minutes, add and fry the tomatoes, salt and pepper, pour in the juice from the tomatoes (if canned), add garlic. After 5 minutes, add the washed cereal, pour boiling water (4 cups), bring to a boil, cook for 20-30 minutes over low heat. Serve immediately, sprinkled with cilantro.

Quinoa and spinach casserole

• spinach - 450g
• bread crumbs - 3 tablespoons
• olive oil - 2 tsp
• onion (yellow) - 1 pc.
• garlic - 2 cloves
• thyme - 1 tablespoon
• rosemary - 1 tsp
• red pepper (flakes) - 1/4 tsp
• boiled quinoa - 2 cups
• cottage cheese (low-fat) - 1 glass
• black pepper (freshly ground) - 1/4 tsp
• egg - 2 pcs.

Cook the basic recipe for quinoa. Preheat the oven to 170 ºС. Drizzle olive oil over a glass or ceramic baking dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs, set aside.

Fill a large bowl with ice and water and set aside. In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add spinach, blanch until bright green, about 10 seconds. Place in a bowl of ice. When the spinach has cooled, squeeze out the water and chop finely. Set aside.

Heat olive oil in a medium skillet. Add onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary and red pepper. Fry until transparent, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat, place in a bowl. Add spinach, quinoa, cottage cheese, pepper, eggs and onion mixture and stir. Pour the mixture into a prepared baking dish. Bake until dark golden brown, 60 to 70 minutes. Slice a casserole and serve warm or at room temperature.

Sprouted Quinoa Salad

• quinoa - 80 g
• zucchini - 1 pc. or cucumber - 2-3 pcs.
• olive oil - 3 tablespoons
• lemon juice - 1 tablespoon
• greens - a bunch (cilantro, dill, basil and parsley)
• salt, pepper and other spices to taste.

Germinate quinoa just like other grains. Sprouts 1-1.5 cm long germinate in 1.5-2 days, faster in warmth. Cut the zucchini into thin strips or as desired. Also finely chop the greens. Mix everything in a bowl and add the sprouted quinoa. Mix oil with lemon and spices. Pour the salad with the dressing.

Cottage cheese casserole with quinoa and cherries

• quinoa - 125 g
• milk - 300 ml
• a slice of lemon peel
• butter - 60 g
• cane sugar - 80 g
• eggs - 2 pcs.
• low-fat cottage cheese - 500 g
• flour - 1 tbsp. spoon
• baking powder for dough - 1/2 sachet
• pitted cherries - 200 g
• roasted almonds - 40g

Cook the quinoa in milk with the addition of lemon peel over low heat until tender, about 15 minutes. Then leave to swell under a closed lid for 10 minutes. Separate the whites from the yolks. Beat the whites into a cool foam. Beat the yolks with sugar and butter. Add cottage cheese, flour mixed with baking powder, quinoa, cherries and almonds to the yolks. Gently stir in the whipped egg whites with a spatula. Transfer the mass to a dish covered with baking paper, if you wish, you can put small pieces of butter on top. Bake in an oven preheated to 175ºC for about 1 hour.

Quinoa Fritters

• whole grain flour - 170-180 g
• baking powder - 2 tsp
• salt - 1/2 tsp
• boiled quinoa - 130 g (about 1 cup)
• egg - 1 pc.
• milk - 240 ml
• honey - 1 tablespoon
• vegetable oil - 2 tablespoons + additionally for frying

Cook basic quinoa and chill a little. Sift flour, baking powder into a bowl, add salt, mix. Make a depression, put the quinoa there. Mix eggs, milk, honey and butter in a separate container. Add them to quinoa flour. Stir well. Fry the pancakes in a preheated pan in vegetable oil on both sides until golden brown.

Quinoa salad with shrimps

• quinoa - 1/2 cup
• water - 1 glass (slightly less)
• salt - 1/2 tsp
• green beans - 200 gr
• sweet pepper - 1 pc. (small)
• peeled shrimps - 100 gr.
• chives or green onions - 1 bunch
• watercress - 1 tbsp

For refueling:

• olive oil - 4 tablespoons
• lemon juice - 3 tablespoons
• soy sauce - 1 tsp
• Tabasco sauce - 1/2 tsp
• ground paprika - 1/2 tsp
• liquid honey - 1 tsp
• salt to taste

Cook quinoa according to the basic recipe, cool. Rinse the shrimp and boil in salted water for 2 minutes, rinse with cold water and discard on a sieve. Wash the bell peppers and cut into strips. Cut off the ends of the beans, chop. Boil water and boil for 5-10 minutes (depending on what kind of beans you have), rinse with cold water and put on a sieve. Chop the chives. Prepare the dressing: To do this, mix all the ingredients and beat with a whisk. Mix quinoa with vegetables, season with dressing, stir. Decorate with watercress shoots.

Turkey or chicken soup with quinoa

• quinoa - 1/2 cup turkey or chicken (fillet) - 500 gr.
• carrots (cut) - 2 pcs.
• celery (sticks, cut) - 1-2 pcs.
• spinach - 200 gr.
• green peas (frozen) - 1 cup broth (turkey, chicken or vegetable) - 2.5 l
• chili (ground) - 1/2 tsp
• turmeric (ground) - 1/2 tsp.
• salt, black pepper (ground) - to taste
• cilantro (dried herbs) - 1-2 tsp

Add chopped carrots to the boiling broth and cook for about 5 minutes. Add celery, quinoa and cook for about 10 minutes. Add turkey pieces and cook for 5 minutes. Add green peas, chili, turmeric, black pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Add spinach and cook for 1-2 minutes. Give it a try. If necessary, add salt and black pepper. Cover the soup with a lid and let it brew for 5-10 minutes.

Quinoa with mushrooms and vegetables

• quinoa - 200 g
• sweet pepper - 1 pc.
• champignons - 5-7 pcs.
• green peas - 1 handful
• parsley to taste
• olive oil
• salt, spices - to taste.

Make a basic recipe for quinoa. Heat oil in a large skillet, fry the chopped mushrooms and peppers for 5-7 minutes, then add the peas and cook for a couple more minutes. Add quinoa, chopped parsley, salt and spices to taste into the pan. Serve warm.

You can purchase organic Quinoa at the Natur Boutique organic store chain, as well as in the online store.

Recipe Source: Quinoa

Images: The Taste Revelation