Spicy Lemon Quinoa Food

LEMON HERB QUINOA

Steps:

• Place the quinoa in a large bowl.
• Fill with cold water.
• Drain into a strainer and repeat the rinsing and draining 4 more times.
• Over medium-high heat, heat the oil in a 2-quart saucepan.
• Add the rinsed quinoa and cook, stirring, until the quinoa makes cracking and popping noises, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in the water, marjoram, thyme, and rosemary.
• Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, 15 minutes.
• Stir in the parsley, lemon juice, salt, lemon rind, and pepper.
• Simmer, covered, 5 minutes longer.
• Fluff with a fork.

SPICY LEMON QUINOA

Steps:

• Place quinoa in a fine mesh sieve. Rinse under cold water until water runs clear. Transfer to a medium saucepan, add 1 teaspoon salt and 2 1/4 cups water. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until water is completely absorbed, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer quinoa to a medium bowl along with pine nuts, lemon zest, parsley, cumin, cayenne; drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper; toss until well combined. Serve warm or at room temperature.

LEMON-SCENTED QUINOA

Steps:

• Wash quinoa in 3 changes of cold water in a bowl, draining in a sieve each time.
• Cook quinoa in a medium pot of boiling salted water (1 tablespoon salt for 2 quarts water), uncovered, until almost tender, about 15 minutes. Drain in sieve, then set sieve over same pot above 1 inch of simmering water (water should not touch bottom of sieve). Cover quinoa with a folded kitchen towel, then cover sieve with a lid (don't worry if lid doesn't fit tightly) and steam over simmering water until tender, fluffy, and dry, about 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat and remove lid. Let stand, still covered with towel, 5 minutes.
• Transfer quinoa to a bowl and stir in oil, zest, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

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.

SPICY QUINOA

Steps:

• Cook the quinoa according to pack instructions, adding the vegetable stock cube to the cooking water. Leave to cool, then break up any clumps with a fork. Mix through remaining ingredients and serve.

SPICY LEMON AIOLI

Steps:

• Add all of the ingredients except the olive oil into a medium sized mixing bowl.
• Begin stirring with either a spatula or whisk and add in olive oil one tablespoon at a time.
• Once everything is well blended, test for desired consistency - add more olive oil as you see fit.
• When completely blended, top with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper and lemon zest.

ARUGULA, LEMON QUINOA SALAD

Steps:

• Quinoa -- Cook according to directions. For most brands it is 1 part to approximately 2 parts liquid. Rinse the quinoa very well before you cook it - Important Step! Then bring the liquid to a boil (I prefer to use a broth to add even more flavor), reduce, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Just check your package for complete directions. Once done, just set to the side to cool.
• Salad Ingredients -- In your serving bowl, add the arugula, onion, scallions, garlic, peas, parsley and lemon zest. Toss well.
• Vinaigrette -- I like to make my vinaigrettes in a small tupperware container so I can just shake it and it is ready to go. Besides, if you don't use all your dressing, just put the lid back on and it will keep in the refrigerator for future use. But you can also mix this up in any small bowl or measuring cup. Just mix up the olive oil, lemon juice, shallot, mustard, sugar and pepper.
• Finish -- Simply add the cooled or room temp quinoa to the salad vegetables and toss. Add a little vinaigrette at a time and mix. Add as much vinaigrette as you want. Check for seasoning and add any additional salt and pepper if needed.
• Serve -- ENJOY this lighter salad.