Quinoa Squash Pilaf Recipes

QUINOA PILAF

Steps:

• Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook onion in oil for 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add carrot, and cook 3 minutes more. Stir in quinoa and vegetable broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 15 to 20 minutes, or until quinoa is tender and fluffy.
• In a bowl, toss quinoa together with walnuts and parsley. Serve hot or at room temperature.

QUINOA WITH ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set aside.
• Place the squash in a medium bowl and add 3 tablespoons of the oil, the thyme and 2 teaspoons of salt and season with pepper to taste. Mix until the squash is well coated. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and spread squash out into a single layer. Roast until a paring knife slides into the squash with no resistance, about 30 minutes, stirring about halfway through the cooking time. Put the pistachios on a small baking sheet and toast until fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rinse the quinoa in cold water in a fine-mesh strainer. Bring the broth or water to a boil and stir in the quinoa. Simmer, uncovered, until a small white spiral becomes visible in each grain, about 9 minutes. Drain the quinoa and transfer it to a medium bowl. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the pistachios, cranberries, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste.
• Place the spinach in a large mixing bowl and toss with the hot squash until slightly wilted. Add the quinoa mixture and toss again. Serve warm or at room temperature.

QUINOA SQUASH PILAF

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, toast the quinoa over medium heat until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. , In a small saucepan, bring broth and water to a boil. Add quinoa. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. , In a large nonstick skillet, saute the zucchini, yellow squash and leeks in oil until vegetables are tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the tomato, cilantro, seasonings and quinoa; heat through. Add spinach; cook and stir until spinach is wilted.

ROASTED MAPLE DELICATA ON QUINOA PILAF

Steps:

• In a pot, combine the rinsed quinoa with 1 1/4 cups water. Bring it to a boil, then down to a gentle simmer, and cover and cook for 15 minutes. Fluff it with a fork and leave the lid ajar for it to fluff.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. While the quinoa cooks, start the squash. Cut them in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Cut the squash into 1" half moons and spread them on the lined baking sheet. Drizzle on the olive oil, maple, paprika and 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast in the upper third of the oven for 20 minutes until tender and browned on the edges.
• Turn the oven down to 350°F. Toss the pumpkin seeds with the grapeseed oil, chili powder and sea salt. Spread them on a clean baking sheet and toast for 8 minutes stirring once while baking. Remove to cool.
• Into the quinoa, stir in the parsley, shallot, lemon juice, olive oil and a few pinches of salt and pepper. Stir to mix and adjust seasoning to taste.
• Onto your serving dish, spread the quinoa and top with the roasted squash. Garnish with the spicy nuts, remaining parsley and fresh thyme.

QUINOA PILAF WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH, CARAMELIZED ONION AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
• Peel, de-seed and chop the squash into small, bite-sized cubes (or high five yourself if you bought it already processed).
• Toss the squash in a bowl with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Bake on a baking sheet lined with either parchment paper or a silicon liner for 25 minutes at 400 degrees.
• Take the uncooked quinoa and toast it a saute pan (no oil or butter!) over medium low heat for about 5 to 7 minutes, stirring/ shaking the pan frequently. You will hear a little popping, and you will smell the toasty quinoa when it is about ready. Careful not to burn it!
• Pour the toasted quinoa in a heat safe bowl and set aside.
• Add half a tablespoon of butter, and half a tablespoon of olive oil to the (same, now empty) pan and heat on low.
• Add the chopped onion, sugar and a little salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir the onions frequently. Tip: If needed, use some extra stock (like 2-3 tablespoons - I do not measure) to de-glaze the pan a couple of times, and scrape up the brown bits. It will evaporate pretty quickly.
• Cook the onions slow and low until fully caramelized, about 20 minutes. The secret to good caramelized onions is patience.
• When the onions are caramelized, add the 1.5 cups of stock, and increase the heat to bring to a boil.
• Once boiling, stir in the quinoa and 1 tablespoon of the thyme.
• Reduce heat to low to a slow simmer, and simmer for about 15 minutes covered, stirring occasionally.
• Remove the lid, and gently fold in the roasted squash. Recover the pot.
• Turn off the heat (with the lid still on) and remove the pot from the heat, and let it sit for 10 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to serving dish, and top with goat cheese crumbles and remaining fresh thyme.
• Serve immediately.

QUINOA PILAF WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH & POMEGRANATE

Steps:

• In a small pot, bring to boil: 2 cup water Stir in: 1 cup quinoa , uncooked Return to boil, then cover pot and reduce heat to simmer. Continue simmering until quinoa is cooked, approximately 12-15 minutes. In the meantime, heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add: 1 TBS extra-virgin olive oil When oil is hot, add: 1 small butternut squash , peeled, seeded & cut into 1-inch chunks 1/2 cup onion , chopped Sauté vegetables until they start to brown, then reduce heat to medium, approximately 10 minutes. Add to the vegetables: 2 garlic cloves , diced 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp black pepper, ground 1 tsp thyme, fresh Mix in: 1 cup vegetable stock 3 TBS pomegranate syrup 1 TBS lemon juice Bring to a a boil and cook for 5 minutes, until squash is fork tender and liquid is reduced. Remove from heat. When quinoa is done, fluff with a fork and pour into a large mixing bowl. Gently mix in the squash mixture with the quinoa. Stir in: 1/2 cup pomegranate arils 1/3 cup pistachios , shelled & chopped 1 tsp thyme, fresh Adjust seasoning to taste and serve hot.