Mediterranean Quinoa (Gluten-free)

This is a quick, healthy and delicious dish.  It comes together in a pinch and most kitchens will have the ingredients on hand to pull it together easily any night, especially if you keep pesto around like I do. If you don't have it in your kitchen, use what you have and I bet it will be great.  It makes a great potluck dish and is easily doubled or tripled for big gatherings.  It is delicious cold the next day if it makes it that far.

This is the dish that made me fall in love with quinoa.  I am not one to mix sweet and savory typically, but this recipe is perfectly balanced in that way.  Furthermore, I am always wanting to reduce the added oils and such to recipes, but I wouldn't touch it here.  Somehow the olive oil, herbs, feta and currants are just perfectly matched.  The currants make the just right tiny sweetness.  I am just too lazy to chop herbs, so I always use whatever pesto I have on hand in the freezer or fridge.

Mediterranean Quinoa (total time 25-30 minutes)

• 1cup quinoa
• 13/4cups water
• 1/2tsp salt
• 1/4cup pine nuts, toasted (or almonds, pecans, etc)
• 1/4cup olive oil
• 1/4cup lemon juice
• 3-4Tbls chopped fresh basil, Italian parsley &/or cilantro (I use about 2T cilantro pesto or parsley pesto and 2T basil/spinach pesto)
• 1/4cup currants (you can use chopped raisins if you like)
• 1/3cup feta cheese, crumbled

Directions
In 2-quart pot, add water and salt and bring to a boil.  Add quinoa to pot and reduce heat to low, simmer 20 minutes.  Once cooked, turn off heat, take off lid and let rest 5-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, dry-toast pine nuts in skillet on the stove for a few minutes until golden brown.  In medium bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice and herbs or pesto.  Add currants, pine nuts and feta cheese.  Add warm quinoa to bowl and toss gently.  Serve at room temperature.

Adapted from Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair

A moment of praise for Quinoa

Quinoa is amazing.  The ancient Incas knew what they were doing here.  It may look like cous cous, but it has way more going for it.  While it technically is not a grain, but a 'pseudograin', it is ridiculously full of nutrients unlike any other grain we think of.  (For more detailed information on quinoa, click here).  It has saved me in this time of wheat/gluten transition and has become a favorite of Mike's as well.  It cooks super fast, is delicious and nutritious. It is good for every meal of the day and in very different ways depending on what you do with it.  You can buy it in bulk anywhere, but currently my favorite way to get it is at Costco, where you can get a 5# bag or organic quinoa for only about $10.  That may last about 2 weeks around here, I'd say. 

Try this:

Boil 2c water.  Add 1c quinoa and cover. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.  Makes about 4-6c.  To make it less moistureful, like tossed with dressing for a side salad, use 1/4c less water.

For breakfast, Mike and Mia like it with olive oil and raisins, I like it with maple syrup or strawberries.