Kochie's Klassic Quinoa Recipe
Kochie's Klassic Quinoa (Keen-wa) Recipe: Spicy Curried Organic Quinoa
This is a very easy little number that I like to knock up for Lib on the many occasions that I take control of the kitchen! You'll need the following:
Ingredients:
1 cup organic quinoa
1 onion, diced or finely sliced (depends on how I'm feeling)
1 1/2 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 teaspoon each of turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander and ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon of fresh grated ginger root
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups of vegetable stock
1/2 fresh green chilli
1/4 cup of roasted pine nuts
1/4 cup of organic currants
1/2 cup of peas (frozen or fresh - I prefer to de-pod my own whenever possible)
1/4 cup of fresh coriander
Now, feel free to muck about with the spices to suit your palate.
Cooking method:
It's important to firstly rinse the quinoa. Some are pre-rinsed but if yours isn't, get a fine sieve and give the quinoa a good rinse under cold water to shift its natural coating called saponin. The saponin is the grain's natural defence and protects it from birds and insects in its native Bolivian environment.
Using a heavy saucepan, gently heat the olive oil and saute the chopped onion for 1 - 2 minutes. Add the fresh ginger, chilli and spices and cook for a further few minutes.
Now add the quinoa, salt and stock and bring to the boil, stirring constantly. Once boiled, put the lid on your saucepan, lower the heat and allow to simmer for 15 minutes or so. When the stock is nearly absorbed, add the peas and then simmer until the stock is fully absorbed, stirring occasionally. Finally, stir through the currants, nuts and most of the fresh coriander and then garnish with the remainder of the coriander.
And voila!
This dish is fantastic cold with salad or hot with char-grilled vegetables or, my favourite, marinated lamb cooked on the barbie! Terrific!
For more superb quinoa recipes go to the Honest to Goodness website - I'm trying the quinoa and chocolate chip cookie recipe next!