**Quinoa Pilaf: A Wholesome and Flavorful Side Dish with Weight Watchers Points**
Quinoa pilaf is a delightful and versatile side dish that combines the goodness of quinoa with the aromatic flavors of a traditional pilaf. This recipe offers two variations: a 4-Point option for Weight Watchers members and a 5-Point version for those seeking a slightly richer experience. Both variations are packed with nutrients, making them a healthy and satisfying addition to any meal. The 4-Point recipe features quinoa, vegetable broth, onion, garlic, and a touch of olive oil, while the 5-Point version adds the richness of butter, pine nuts, and dried cranberries. With its fluffy texture, nutty flavor, and vibrant colors, quinoa pilaf is a perfect accompaniment to grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or flavorful curries.
QUINOA PILAF
A delicious and easy quinoa recipe. Serve with a salad and crusty bread for a complete meal.
Provided by JBUCK123
Categories Side Dish Grain Side Dish Recipes
Time 35m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
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.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 365.2 calories, Carbohydrate 36.9 g, Fat 20.9 g, Fiber 7 g, Protein 10.1 g, SaturatedFat 1.9 g, Sodium 259.8 mg, Sugar 4.5 g
QUINOA PILAF
Provided by Giada De Laurentiis
Categories side-dish
Time 55m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cook's Note: To toast the almonds, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven until lightly toasted, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool completely before using.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large saucepan or a high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the bell pepper, salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are tender, 5 minutes. Make a space in the center of the vegetables and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the quinoa and cook, stirring constantly, until coated with oil, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and cook until all of the liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Cover the pan and simmer until all of the broth has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes. Keep covered and let sit for 10 minutes. Add the arugula, almonds, mint, cucumber and lemon zest and toss well. Season with salt and pepper.
QUINOA PILAF
Steps:
- Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and saute until tender, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, epazote and bay leaf. Stir 1 minute. Add quinoa and stir just until coated. Add stock. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until quinoa is tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. Discard epazote and bay leaf.
- Transfer pilaf to large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley or cilantro.
QUINOA PILAF
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat, then add the shallot, fennel, carrot, and a pinch of salt and sauté for about 3 minutes, until the vegetables start to sweat. Stir in the quinoa, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, ginger, and cardamom, then stir in the broth and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, until the liquid has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender.
- Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork, then add the parsley and fluff again. Do a FASS check and add a spritz of lemon juice to amp up the flavor if needed.
- rebecca's notes
- Rinse, rinse, and rinse again! Quinoa is naturally coated with a bitter-tasting resin. To get rid of the resin, put the grain in a bowl of cool water, swish it around with your hand, then drain it in a fine-mesh sieve.
- Quinoa is gluten free, which makes sense when you consider that botanically, it isn't a grain at all; it's more closely related to beets. It makes a great replacement for couscous in Orange Pistachio Couscous (page 145). It's also a great hot cereal; try it in place of oats in Best Oatmeal Ever (page 128).
- storage
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days.
- nutrition information
- (per serving)
- Calories: 270
- Total Fat: 9.9g (1.3g saturated, 5.7g monounsaturated)
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Protein: 8g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sodium: 180mg
- WHO KNEW? Chemo and Carbs and Diabetes Risk
- By now, most of us know that chemo can cause muscle loss. But it can also lead to diabetes if you're not careful. Less muscle mass is a double whammy: You burn less sugar than with normal muscle levels, and you also store less sugar, in the form of glycogen, in those muscles, meaning all that unused consumed sugar stays in your body (usually in the liver, blood, and kidneys), elevating overall blood sugar levels and forcing you to use more insulin.
- Dr. Jeanne Wallace says that on top of that, "when you're given chemo, you're often given a steroid that really increases the glycemic response," creating the type of blood sugar spikes and insulin surges that can predispose people to diabetes. Wallace's suggestion? While you're in treatment, forget the USDA food pyramid. It suggests 6 to 11 servings of carbs per day. You want to eat fewer carbs, so shoot for half of that if not less. When you do eat carbs, avoid refined white flour and sugar and stick with whole grains, as their higher fiber content slows the release of their sugars into the body. This may have direct anticancer benefits too, as some studies have shown that lowering blood sugar levels in animals suppressed tumor growth.
Tips:
- For the best results, use a good quality quinoa. Look for quinoa that is light in color and free of debris.
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly before cooking. This will help to remove any bitterness from the quinoa.
- Use a good quality vegetable broth. This will add flavor to the pilaf.
- Don't be afraid to experiment with different vegetables. You can use any vegetables that you like in this recipe.
- If you are using frozen vegetables, be sure to thaw them before adding them to the pilaf.
- Serve the pilaf immediately. It is best when it is hot and fresh.
Conclusion:
This quinoa pilaf is a delicious and healthy side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you are looking for a quick and easy weeknight meal or a special side dish for a holiday dinner, this quinoa pilaf is sure to please everyone at the table.
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