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Whaddayaknow: it’s is already the fourth time four Dutch foodie bloggers are getting together for a weekend cooking blog hop! This time we’re focussing on quinoa. Have you ever had quinoa for dinner? Or breakfast for that matter — I’ve seen several recipes but haven’t dared trying yet for myself. Just like I’m reluctant to eat rice in the morning… But what am I saying? Contrary to how it’s used in Western cuisine, quinoa is not a grain but a vegetable related to leafy greens like spinach and Swiss chard! Well, the seeds of it anyway.
The first time I tried quinoa was during my 10-day ExtraVeganza project. I made a stir-fry from The Guardian. Since then I’ve used it a few times in bento’s (#131, #161, #176, #177), but as I’m only halfway my second package… I guess it has not been used not that often! Rather surprisingly. O_o Because I like the taste, it’s quick & easy to make and belongs to the category of ‘super foods’ — meaning that it’s ultra healthy. ;) Quinoa is gluten-free, high on so-called complete proteins, vitamins B1&2, E, iron, copper and magnesium. Reading that you already feel better, right? ;)
The quinoa dish I’m sharing today is Quinoa & Vegetable Laksa. Laksa is an Asian chowder-like thick soup. Mr Gnoe and I had two helpings each so that our bellies were filled but not the I-need-to-lie-on-the-couch kind of full. Very satisfying but low-fat! This is a perfect weekday meal for when you’re tired and the fridge is empty.
I veganised the original recipe from BBC’s Good Food and made some adaptations dictated by the (barren) contents of my cupboards.
Quinoa and Vegetable Laksa
Ingredients – serves 2
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp Patak’s mild curry paste
- about 50 ml water
- 500 ml oat milk
- 400 g frozen mixed vegetables, or any veggies at hand which were in my case: frozen peas and green beans, corn kernels from a can, a large spring onion/small leek (sliced), an old turnip (nuked), some red and green bell pepper in small pieces
- 85 g quinoa, rinsed (!)
- 2 ts vegan broth powder
- salt & pepper
Preparation
- Simmer the onion, curry paste and water for 5 minutes in a large saucepan, stirring from time to time. Begin with a splash of water and add some when the mixture gets too dry.
- Heat the oat milk in a jug in the microwave.
- Add the vegetables, quinoa, broth powder and stir in the milk.
- Bring to the boil, simmer gently for 10 mins until the quinoa is cooked.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Let it sit for a short while longer if the directions of the quinoa call for that.
Serve with salad and bread — naan would be awesome!
Suggestions
Next time I would like to try this recipe with almond milk instead of oat. Mr Gnoe thinks that will be too overwhelming but I think it may be good. Or maybe half of each. Of course you can use any plant-based milk but some will be better than others.
Also, the original recipe was titled “Spicy vegetable and quinoa laksa” but my tastebuds failed to notice any heat. Of course that depends on the the type of curry paste: I may use a stronger one next time, or just add a red chilli.
Always remember to rinse your quinoa seeds before cooking. They have a bitter-tasting coating (called saponins), which is mildly toxic and meant to make the kernels less-palatable to birds and other seed-eaters. These days quinoa has already been cleaned by the manufacturer but it’s good to get rid of possible remnants. Just follow the instructions on the package.
<whisper mode> Of course I shouldn’t say so in a post dedicated to quinoa, but you can also use 150 grams of basmati rice instead — just cook until done. But you didn’t hear that from me, okay?! ;) <whisper mode off>
And now that you’ve opened a package of quinoa: hop over to my fellow foodies for their awesome recipes!
Chinoiseries goes south with her North African Quinoa Stew ~ vegan
JannyAn serves a Quinoa Salad with Cranberries and Apricot ~ vegan
Uniflame baked some Black Bean & Quinoa Burgers ~ vegetarian
– – – – –
Join Beth Fish’s Weekend Cooking with a food-related post!
20 reacties
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zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 15:59
Beth F
I didn’t hear that whisper but good to know.
This sounds like a fabulous weekday dish. Perfect for using up leftover vegetables. And I do like quinoa, altough I haven’t had it for breakfast. We generally use rice milk (Mr. BFR is lactose intolerant) so that’s the milk I’d try with this. I love curry anything, so this is going on the try list.
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 16:13
Leeswammes
Great recipe and one that I’d love to make some time. I’ve never tried quinoa but I love anything with curry paste so this sounds easy and very nice. I tend to use Thai curry paste in the recipes I make (usually red) and that can be very strong! Two table spoons of that would probably be too much.
So, can you tell me, what should we count quinoa as? I mean, when planning a meal. It’s a vegetable but high in protein, so in my meal with carbs, veg, and protein (I always keep in my head that my meal needs (substitutes for) potatoes, veg and meat), would it be the protein?
I wonder if you could use coconut milk instead of milk, too.
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 16:54
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[…] cooked up an Easy Quinoa & Vegetable Laksa You can find a Quinoa Salad with Cranberries and Apricot on Janny’s blog Last but definitely […]
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 17:03
tinyskillet
What a great dish and sounds like it would be so satisfying. I like to use quinoa in salads, I prefer it cold, but I think this one might bring me back to eating it warm.
Yes I think the almond milk sounds good here, even coconut milk would be fun to try.
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 17:08
Uniflame
I need to pin this recipe on pinterest because I love to make good filled soups that can empty my fridge and I also have plenty of quinoa left :)
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 17:13
Quinoa Salad with Cranberries and Apricot – Quinoa Quartet Bloghop « JannyAn's Blog
[…] the other Dutch bloggers featuring Quinoa today: Chinoiseries, North African Quinoa Stew Gnoe, Easy Quinoa & Vegetable Laksa Uniflame, Black Bean and Quinoa Burger Share this:FacebookTwitterE-mailVind ik leuk:LikeWees de […]
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 17:22
Chinoiseries
I will try your recipe soon! I like quinoa in both warm and cold dishes and sweet and savoury as well. When I flew with KLM last month, I was actually served a quinoa porridge for breakfast as part of the vegan meal package :-) So versatile and healthy :D
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 17:37
Saskia
If tou cook a little bit more quinoa, or just have a plain left over, you can use it in a smoothie. It makes the texture creamy plus adds the extra proteins. So, another way serving quinoa for breakfast.
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 17:38
Chinoiseries
I never considered doing that. Wow, must try that sometime!
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 17:51
Diane La Rue (@bookchickdi)
I’ve gotta try quinoa, I’ve seen so many great recipes for it.
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 21:42
Elizabeth Rodriguez
I’m going to follow your hop :) We love quinoa!
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 22:05
JannyAn
This looks delicious. Sure want to try it (and pin it)
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 22:05
Carole
Haven’t tried quinoa yet.
zaterdag 5 mei 2012 bij 22:33
caite@a lovely shore breeze
I too am a fan of anything with curry in it. I have never had quinoa yet, but I must try it.
zondag 6 mei 2012 bij 05:14
Joy Weese Moll (@joyweesemoll)
That looks like a tasty stew!
Joy’s Book Blog
zondag 6 mei 2012 bij 11:45
Marg
One of these days I will get around to trying quinoa! I love it when you all get together for these posts!
zondag 13 mei 2012 bij 11:50
Novroz
Your Laksa looks different to Indonesian Laksa. They all look tasty :)
woensdag 18 juli 2012 bij 02:47
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