Quinoa With Sweet Potatoes And Hijiki Food

SPICY QUINOA WITH SWEET POTATOES

Steps:

• Put the quinoa in a bowl and cover with water; drain. Repeat twice; drain well. (This will help remove bitterness.) Transfer the quinoa to a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly until the quinoa is dry, about 8 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, 3/4 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, then cover the pan, leaving the lid slightly ajar to let steam escape; reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the quinoa is tender and the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and garlic and cook until slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add the chile powder, coriander and cumin and cook, stirring, until the spices darken, about 1 minute. Add the remaining 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, the jalapeno, sweet potatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is almost absorbed, about 15 minutes.
• Add the sweet potato mixture to the quinoa, then add the cilantro and lime juice and toss; season with salt.

QUINOA WITH SWEET POTATO AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Stir the quinoa in a saucepan over medium heat until it begins to take on a toasty aroma, about 5 minutes. Pour in the water, and add pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and cayenne pepper; season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover the skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the sweet potato is soft, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour a splash of water into the skillet if needed to keep the vegetables from burning. Spoon the vegetable mixture over a bed of quinoa, and sprinkle with chopped pecans to serve.

QUINOA WITH SWEET POTATO AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Mix quinoa, water and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and cayenne pepper; season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover the skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until the sweet potato is soft, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add water into the skillet as needed to keep the vegetables from drying out and sticking.
• Divide the quinoa among 4 plates and ladle the vegetables over the quinoa. Sprinkle with almond slivers.

QUINOA, SWEET POTATO AND PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Dice the sweet potatoes to 1/2 inch or smaller.
• In foil, lay out the potatoes and shallots, coating them with just a little bit of oil so they moisten properly. Sprinkle on the nutmeg, the ground pepper, and the curry or the garam masala. Roast for approximately 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, LIGHTLY toast the quinoa for no more than 4 minutes in a little of the oil in the saucepan you will use to cook it, on the stovetop. A moderate/low temp works best, and continually move the quinoa around to prevent burning.
• Add the water/veggie stock (this may splash back) . Add the jalopeno.
• When this comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 12-15 minutes at a simmer. It is best to cover, but check to see if you need to add more water.
• As far as the bell pepper goes: I add it 2 minutes before cooking is done, but if you prefer your pepper less au-dente, add it sooner, mix and re-cover.
• When done, if needed, drain the quinoa. Add in the roasted sweet potato/shallot mixture, and serve hot. Or save for a future meal.

SWEET POTATOES SIMMERED WITH HIJIKI

Steps:

• Scrub the sweet potato and cut into matchsticks. Soak for a few minutes in cold water.
• Break the hijiki into short lengths and soak in water to cover. Drain the sweet potato and pat dry.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, add the sweet potato, and saute for a few minutes. Drain the hijiki, reserving the soaking water, and squeeze out the excess liquid. Add to the sweet potato and toss lightly so that all the surfaces are coated with oil.
• Blend 1 cup of the reserved hijiki soaking water with the soy sauce, sugar or honey, sake or mirin, and pour over the sweet potato-hijiki mixture. Cover, lower the heat, and simmer for 7 to 8 minutes or until the sweet potato is cooked. Uncover and cook for 2 minutes over medium-high heat to reduce the liquid. Stir well, then drain the vegetables and stir in the sesame seeds.
• Serve hot or at room temperature, in small mounds in the center of small, deep bowls.