Tonight I made a delicious and healthy Asian-inspired meal: Veggie Fried Rice Quinoa.
(P.S. Sorry, my camera was not cooperating so the pictures aren’t the greatest! 🙁 )
Many of you may be wondering, “what is quinoa?” While quinoa greatly resembles a grain, it is actually a seed. Taste-wise, I think it highly resembles rice and it can easily take the place of rice in any recipe. So what is so great about quinoa? Well, it is actually said to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Quinoa is one of the only foods that is a complete protein, it is gluten-free, and it is high in protein, fiber, magnesium, and iron. In other words, this stuff not only tastes great, but it is really great for you! You can use any brand of quinoa (I use Bob’s Red Mill Organic Quinoa), but make sure you buy a pre-washed variety otherwise it can taste bitter.
Servings: Approximately 5 (cut this recipe in half if you are cooking for 1-2 people, unless you want leftovers!)
Ingredients
4 cups of cooked quinoa (1 cup uncooked)
1 TB sesame oil
1 tsp minced garlic
2 cups frozen peas and carrots
4 tsp chopped onion flakes or chopped onion
3 eggs
4 TB light, low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 bunch of green onions, chopped
black pepper, to taste
1. Cook quinoa following package directions.
2. Heat sesame oil over medium heat in large wok or pan.
3. Saute garlic, peas and carrots, and chopped onion flakes until the veggies are cooked through.
4. Crack and wisk the eggs and add to the wok. Cook until eggs are scrambled.
5. Add cooked quinoa, soy sauce, green onions, and black pepper. Cook an additional 2 minutes.
This is a healthy veggie and protein-filled meal that only takes about 30 minutes total to prepare. If you do not have quinoa, you could certainly substitute brown rice! I served my veggie fried quinoa with a side of green beans and ….(drumroll please!)….HOLIDAY RED SEEDLESS GRAPES! Yes, these bad boys are back in stores and I am beyond excited. They are soooo good! Go buy some!
Lastly, I must thank Sherry for the wok. It made me feel like even more of a cook! 😉
