Quinoa. Heard of it? Probably. Seen it? Maybe. Bought it? Possibly. Made it? Potentially. Know how to say it? Not likely.
While it’s tough to pronounce, Quinoa (KEEN-Wah) is one of the most delicious tasting grains I’ve ever eaten. I love ANYTHING with a nutty flavor and this hits the mark. Not only is it packed with protein, (it’s a complete protein, meaning all of the amino acids we need are right there!) it’s full of iron, magnesium, and fiber. It’s touted as an ancient grain, but honestly, I don’t care if it’s been around for a billion years or someone discovered it yesterday-it’s something to keep in the pantry for a quick side dish or Meatless Monday dinner.
Let’s make a fun Quinoa recipe at home
You’ll find red, white and black varieties most commonly of this nutty grain, but rest assured that the cooking method is the same for all three types.
Keep in mind:
1. 1 cup of dry quinoa will expand to about 3 cups
2. Your life will be much easier if you have a fine-mesh strainer or sieve
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Kitchen Sink Quinoa ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, cooked according to package directions
- 2 handfuls cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1 can of artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed, and roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup Marcona almonds, toasted (can use any nut you wish)
- 1/2-1 cup torn arugula or spinach
- 1/2 cup Fresh Mozzarella, chopped or diced
- 1/4-1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette (use 1/4 cup, mix and taste. Add additional dressing if needed)
- salt and pepper to taste
How to make kitchen sink quinoa recipe
Step 1
Cook a cup of quinoa. If you need visual instructions on how to cook quinoa, this short video will help!
Step 2
Empty cooked quinoa into a large bowl. Add all ingredients and stir well. Taste.
Step 3
Season with more salt and pepper if desired. Serve and enjoy!
This became my go-to lunch for four days last week. It’s hearty, delicious, and keeps well in the fridge. Add it to the rotation!
Easy Kitchen Sink Quinoa Recipe
Quinoa is a very healthy grain that not everyone has heard of! This tasty and easy kitchen sink quinoa recipe will surely give you a turnaround with how you view grains!
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa, cooked according to package directions
- 2 handfuls cherry or grape tomatoes
- 1 can of artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed, and roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup Marcona almonds, toasted (can use any nut you wish)
- 1/2-1 cup torn arugula or spinach
- 1/2 cup Fresh Mozzarella, chopped or diced
- 1/4-1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette (use 1/4 cup, mix and taste. Add additional dressing if needed)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook 1 cup of quinoa according to the package instructions.
- Transfer the cooked quinoa into a big bowl. Add in all the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings according to your preference.
- Serve and enjoy!
Have you tried this easy kitchen sink quinoa recipe? How do you like it?
I have a friend who made it with curry– a similar cold salad, but indian flavored. SO good!
Curry sounds so delicious! Thanks for sharing!