Thursday, May 17, 2012

Quinoa Pilaf and Gardening


Here is a delicious and healthy side dish that will go with almost anything.  I recently served it with grilled chicken and have also served it with grilled fish. Now that gardening season is here in the Midwest, I'm enjoying light and healthy meals that are easy to prepare.  I put my husband on grill duty and I prepare a simple side dish or salad. If I end up MIA for a week or two, just know that I am digging and planting :)


I really like the Ancient Harvest brand of quinoa that I find at my local grocery store because it is pre-washed and there is no rinsing necessary.  For those of you who have still not gotten on the quinoa bandwagon, this is a delicious and easy way to get your feet wet.  It was the first thing I tried making with quinoa. I love the chewy texture and nutty flavor! And, it is gluten free.

Quinoa Pilaf

Recipe adapted from Ancient Harvest Quinoa
Printable Recipe

Serves 4

1/2 cup carrots, diced
1/2 cup green onion, sliced thin using some of the green part
1/4 cup celery diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup fresh spinach, sliced very thin
4 cups cooked quinoa (cooked according to package instructions)
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil (or 1 tablespoon of each)
2/3 cup sliced almonds, lightly toasted
Season to taste with any of the following: Oregano, basil, salt and pepper

You may also add sliced green or red pepper.

In a large sauté pan, saute the vegetables in the butter/oil until crisp-tender. Add spinach and sauté until wilted. Add oregano or basil and stir briefly. Add the cooked quinoa to the sautéed vegetables and mix well until incorporated and heated throughout. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Add toasted almonds and serve.

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Now back to work in my garden!

61 comments:

  1. Bonjour.. quinoa and gardening 2 of my favorite things..I will try your Quinoa..I am such a devout fan.Warm..cold..etc..
    And gardening? Soul Food~Is your tree peony blooming already? Wow! Lovely collage~

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    1. I knew you would be! It's actually almost done blooming, Monique! The yellow one still has a few good blooms :)

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  2. I am happy to know there is a prewashed quinoa. We love it but even my smallest-holed sieve loses a lot of the grains. The recipe wounds delicious!

    Happy gardening!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  3. Love the specks of color! I'm one that still hasn't tried it, gotta put it on the list... Have fun in the yard Susan, you planting that same cherry tomato plant as last year? I've never seen one fuller:@)

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    1. It's delicious too :) I am planting the same tomato plant! It's called Tumbling Tom and I'm anxious to see if it does as well this year as it did last year.

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  4. Looks like you have a very healthy garden - the flowers are beautiful. I don't know that I have ever had quinoa, but yours looks and sounds like something I would like.
    Enjoy your evening.

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  5. Hi Susan!

    I bought a package of Quinoa months ago to serve at a birthday lunch with friends but decided on something else. Now I have a recommended recipe :) Thank you for sharing!

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  6. Susan, what is the name of those blue/purple flowers in the bottom left of the collage? I have been on the quinoa bandwagon for many years and love it. The price of quinoa also went way up due to the popularity of it. I will make this pilaf!

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    1. Hi Debbie! I had to look in my plant tag book to remember what it is called :) It's Veronica Rupestris 'Blue Eyes'. It blooms only once in the late spring and likes to spread. I usually end up pulling it out when it goes out of the bed.

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  7. Your garden is so lovely. Nice place for a stroll, and all the work you put into it pays off. This salad is very colorful and must be delicious. Lately I've been using Earthbound Farms' Power Greens and I'm thinking they would substitute nicely for the spinach (but I love spinach too). The greens I've planted aren't yet ready, but soon. I hope you're enjoying these warmer, sunny days Susan!

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    1. Hi Becky! I love having my morning coffee strolling around the garden :)

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  8. I'm on the bandwagon as far as I bought the quinoa, but I still haven't used it yet. I'll have to try it with your recipe, it looks delicious. Your garden is very pretty!

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  9. I totally envy your garden. Look at those blooms. look so lush and pleasing to the eyes.

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  10. I'm new with quinoa recipes, but I have tried rice similar to your recipe and it was great, I can't wait to make it with quinoa

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  11. What a delicious side dish, easy to prepare and healty! have a good weekend dear, a spring hug !

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  12. Your garden looks wonderful and full of spring just like this divine side dish :D

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  13. this looks great and great plan getting hubby on the grill enjoy the garden

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  14. Quinoa and gardening sound like a very healthy combination to me. I have to get on the quinoa bandwagon! And gardening? We have our hands full too. So much to do....
    Sam

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  15. I could eat this quinoa pilaf every day! It looks divine!
    Happy Gardening!
    Angie

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  16. Love to find a new recipe for quiona; Your flowers are beautiful! We wemt to get our herbs yesterday; it's going to be a fun weekend.
    Rita

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  17. I must say, I miss the digging and planting! It was always so rewarding, Susan. Looking forward to all the results!
    I've made a quinoa salad just once and was not overly pleased with it. This one looks excellent and I'm going to try it...great idea to saute the veggies. Love the almond crunch in there too.

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  18. I love quinoa and this is such a lovely recipe adding in all those luscious veggies. I make quinoa all the time but next time will make it your way.

    What a beautiful garden you have makes me wish I was a gardener.

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  19. It sounded and looks so delicious that I snagged the recipe pronto and forgot to comment. Thank you for another healthful recipe. Variety is the spice of life!

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  20. Quinoa is one of my favorites and this sounds like a great recipe. Enjoy your garden. I am envious.

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  21. I'm going to look for your brand of quinoa. Your pilaf sounds terrific.

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  22. So exciting! I am eager to follow in your footsteps soon (I hope). This salad looks and sounds perfect for the weather here and quinoa is sold in Beirut in some supermarkets!

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  23. What a great looking quinoa, Susan! Love your simple preparation and fresh ingredients, too. Your garden looks great - nice job!

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  24. You have a beautiful garden Susan and the salad you made looks oh so delicious! All the vegetables and almonds add a special touch to it!

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  25. I love quinoa, but I don't think it's "caught on" where I live. Every time I buy it, the clerks at the grocery store as me what it is and what you do with it. Looks like you've been busy in your garden. Your flowers are beautiful.

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  26. Goodness, how your garden does grow. Those peonies are prizewinners.

    Didn't know there was such as thing as pre-washed quinoa. Can't tell you how many times I forget to do it and have that nasty taste in my finished dish. You have some perfect ingredients in this recipe that make it so darn good for you as well as delicious. I usually eat a little lighter during the summer and this is a great recipe for that.

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  27. The quinoa dish looks delicious. I've seen it in the grocery store, but have "passed" on it, mainly since I didn't have a good reason to try it and the kind I saw was a bit pricey..must have been organic. I'll look again and give it a try. Your garden looks lovely. Your Veronica "Blue Eyes" looks like my Veronica Speedwell Georgia Blue. LOL..they must be cousins. Have fun in the garden.
    Babs

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  28. No matter how many times I have tried quinoa, I just can't like it...my husband loves it, though!

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  29. I have not tried quinoa before, this is something that I would love to try, have seen lots of recipes using quinoa!
    Your flowers are beautiful, if I have a garden like yours, I would spend the whole day in the garden too! Simply lovely!

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  30. Beautiful salad. We're just getting to gardening season here in the Rocky Mountains. Love your photos.

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  31. All you had to write was "garden" it immediately gets my attention. It's interesting that in the Winter we seek out heavier comfort foods but in the Spring summer, we seek light fresh foods.

    The quinoa salad looks delicious. Served up with a light white wine this would make for a great dinner.

    Awesome.
    Velva

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  32. You should be enjoying your garden. The salad looks terrific and such a great summer salad. Made my copy.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  33. Fresh garden herbs are one of the best delights of summer. I'm always in the look out for new quinoa recipes and this looks so good with the diced carrots, celery and green onions.

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  34. Your flowers are so pretty. I have been working in our gardens all week. Thanks for sharing this salad recipe with Quinoa. I keep forgetting about it. Salads are delightful in the summer months.
    thank you for visiting leaving me kind thoughts.

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  35. This is great! I just found a box of quinoa in the back of a cabinet today and now I know what to do with it! Good luck with your gardening! We have so much shade now, it's hard to do that except for flowers that don't like so much sun. I miss the veggies! I'm sure you're enjoying the warm weather here now as much as I am. Happy gardening!

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  36. yay for quinoa! I love weaseling it into as many meals as possible. This sounds great!

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  37. I have jumped on the quinoa bandwagon too, Susan. Your salad looks so tasty and healthy. I hope to plant my flower pots this week and am looking forward to a trip to our local garden center. We had a frost last week and I'm trying not to jump the gun.

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  38. This is health in a bowl. A perfect Spring dish.

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  39. I've always wanted to try quinoa!

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  40. You made my fay with this dish. I'm obsessed with quinoa because it's so filling. I can't wait to try this recipe!

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  41. Your garden looks beautiful! My husband has grill duty too;-) I'm very happy to make a side dish to go along with whatever is on the grill and your quinoa pilaf fits the bill wonderfully;-)

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  42. Quinoa is just a gem! and this salad just takes it to the next level - healthy, delicious - perfect! good luck with the garden!
    Mary x

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  43. We are grilling chicken with company tomorrow and this is on the menu! Thanks so much for another healthy, delicious dish.

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  44. Ohhh...loving this quinoa pilaf, Susan! And I just posted a quinoa recipe too :)Quinoa is indeed delicious- and I'll have to try your wonderful recipe too. Your garden look fantastic too.

    HUGS <3

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  45. Almost thought that there was some rice in this dish, but it does look great! Everyone have yourself a great memorial day weekend as well. Richard

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  46. Pinned this on my recipes to try board. I need to eat more quinoa.

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  47. I had just tried it for the first time. This looks wonderful. Have a nice weekend.

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  48. This looks absolutely divine.

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  49. SO gald to have found your delicious quinoa recipe. Have to try it soon! Cheers :)

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  50. I need to get back on the quinoa bandwagon~ your recipe looks so light and flavorful! Happy Gardening and Memorial Day to you!

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  51. I planted my veggies and tomatoes in my garden only yesterday am looking forward to so many delicious meals.

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  52. Quinoa has become popular in our home especially with vegetable. You turned it into a special dish with all those vegetables.

    My garden is small but we do get a few plants out of it and lots of herbs.

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  53. I saw this on my ipad, but it is a nuisance to comment from there, besides the awful glare!
    This looks very good, and I have yet to try it. I will though. so many recipes popping up in the newspapers featuring it. Have to pick some up.
    Have fun in the garden. When do we divide the bb iris? :)

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  54. OH my goodness that looks so good! Its beautiful!

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