Tex Mex Quinoa Brown Rice Grain Bowl Food

TEX-MEX GRAIN BOWL

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water and taco seasoning to a boil. Stir in oats; cook 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Divide oatmeal among 4 bowls. Top with beans, salsa, cheese, avocado and toppings as desired. Serve immediately.

TEX-MEX TOFU AND QUINOA BOWL

Steps:

• Cook the quinoa as the label directs. Meanwhile, puree the cilantro, lime juice, 2 teaspoons honey, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a blender. With the blender running, slowly drizzle in 1/3 cup vegetable oil. Toss the cooked quinoa with 3 tablespoons of the cilantro dressing and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Stir the remaining 1 tablespoon honey and the hot sauce in a small bowl. Lay out the tofu slices on a double layer of paper towels and gently press with another double layer of paper towels to dry. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season the tofu on both sides with the cumin and salt and pepper to taste. Add the tofu to the skillet in a single layer and cook until browned and crisp, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from the heat and spread the tops of the tofu slices with the honey-hot sauce mixture.
• Divide the quinoa among bowls; top with the tofu, carrots, radishes and avocado, and season with salt and pepper. Top with the remaining dressing and cilantro.

TEX MEX SHRIMP AND SQUASH GRAIN BOWL WITH AVOCADO DRESSING

Steps:

• For the squash: Prepare the quinoa according to the package instructions. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the butternut squash on the baking sheet. Spray with the olive oil, then sprinkle with cumin, salt and pepper, and rub the seasonings on the pieces. Roast, turning once to ensure they are not burning, until crisp-tender with brown edges, about 20 minutes.
• For the avocado dressing: Blend the avocado, almond milk, cilantro, jalapeno and cider vinegar, if using, lime juice, salt and pepper in a food processor. Add a tablespoon of water or a bit more lime juice to make the sauce thinner, if desired. Set aside in an airtight container.
• For the grain bowls: Add the olive oil, garlic and onion to a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion turns brown and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium-high, then toss in the shrimp. Add the chili powder and smoked paprika and cook, tossing occasionally, until the shrimp is plump, the outside edges are seared and there are no more visible raw areas, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Add the kale to the skillet along with the lime juice. Cook, tossing occasionally, allowing the kale to wilt under the steam of the lime juice until the kale has softened yet is still crisp, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove everything from the heat.
• Divide the quinoa, butternut squash and shrimp and kale mix among three bowls. Toss together in the individual bowls. Top with equal amounts of the dressing. Garnish with cilantro, green onions and lime juice.

TEX-MEX CHICKEN SALAD BOWL

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375˚. Combine the lime zest, fajita seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a small bowl; rub all over the chicken. Heat a large nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn and cook, stirring, until warmed through, 30 seconds; remove to a bowl. Add the vegetable oil to the skillet. Add the chicken and cook until browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until the chicken is just cooked through, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board to rest 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine 1 cup spinach, the halved avocado, buttermilk, lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a blender. Puree until smooth. Blend in 2 to 4 tablespoons water until thin enough to drizzle.
• Divide the remaining spinach among shallow bowls. Arrange the corn, sliced avocado, tomatoes, cabbage and tortilla strips on top. Slice the chicken against the grain and add to the bowls. Drizzle with some of the dressing and serve the rest on the side.

TEX-MEX QUINOA BROWN RICE GRAIN BOWL

Steps:

• Cook quinoa and brown rice according to package instructions, (I used 1/2 cup of each and had a little over 1 cup leftover after 2 servings)
• Dice a medium onion and place in a skillet with 1 tbsp vegetable oil and cook on medium low heat while stirring occasionally to caramelize the onion, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Open a 14 oz. can of black beans and put in a strainer and rinse.
• Add the beans to the caramelized onion in the skillet and heat until warmed, 3 or 4 minutes, (there was about 3/4 cup of leftover beans and onion)
• Quarter a plum tomato lengthwise and use your thumb to remove the seeds, then dice.
• Slice 1/2 of a ripe avocado
• Boil 4 or 5 cups of water in a saucepan, then add eggs with a slotted spoon or small kitchen spider, and boil for 5 minutes for a runny yolk
• Remove the eggs with the slotted spoon and place in ice cold water for 30 seconds to cool slightly, then peel
• Assemble the grain bowl as desired, drizzle with taco sauce and lightly salt and pepper the dish.
• Garnish with green onion and cilantro

TEX-MEX RICE

Steps:

• In a heavy pot, cook garlic in oil over high heat until browned, stirring often.
• Discard garlic cloves.
• Add rice to infused oil and reduce heat to medium high.
• Stirring constantly, brown rice.
• Add broth, salsa, carrots and corn and reduce heat to low.
• Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
• Fluff rice before serving.