Best 7 Spiced Quinoa Recipes

SPICED QUINOA

Steps:

• Stir together the olive oil, onion, and garlic in a saucepan over medium heat until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the quinoa, curry powder, salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes until the quinoa is tender.
• Once the quinoa has finished cooking, stir in the drained garbanzo beans, toasted pine nuts, and raisins. Serve warm or cold.

MOROCCAN-SPICED LEMON DRESSING AND QUINOA-APRICOT -SPINACH SALAD

Steps:

• TO PREPARE THE DRESSING:.
• Whisk lemon juice, yogurt, honey, cumin, cinnamon and ginger in a small bowl until blended.
• Slowly whisk in oil so that the dressing becomes smooth and emulsified.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• TO PREPARE THE SALAD:.
• Toast quinoa in a dry skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until it becomes aromatic and begins to crackle, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a fine sieve and rinse thoroughly.
• Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until golden, about 1 minute. Add apricots and the quinoa; continue cooking, stirring often, until the quinoa has dried out and turned light golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add water and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the quinoa is tender and the liquid is absorbed, 15 to 18 minutes.
• Transfer the quinoa to a medium bowl and toss with 1/3 cup of the Moroccan-Spiced Lemon Dressing. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Just before serving, add tomatoes and onion to the quinoa; toss to coat. Toss spinach with the remaining 1/3 cup dressing in a large bowl. Divide the spinach among 4 plates. Mound the quinoa salad on the spinach and sprinkle with almonds.
• SERVING SIZE = 2 cups spinach with approximately 1 cup quinoa mixture.
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare through Step 3. Cover and refrigerate the quinoa and dressing separately for up to 2 days.
• INGREDIENT NOTE: Quinoa is available in most natural-foods stores and the natural-foods sections of many supermarkets. Toasting this grain before simmering enhances its flavor.
• TO TOAST NUTS: Heat a small dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add nuts and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

SPICED BLUEBERRY QUINOA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cook and stir quinoa over medium heat until lightly toasted, 5-7 minutes. Stir in almond milk, honey, cinnamon and salt; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until quinoa is tender and liquid is almost absorbed, 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally., Remove from heat; stir in blueberries and vanilla. Sprinkle with almonds.

SPICED YELLOW LENTILS WITH QUINOA

Steps:

• Rinse the quinoa thoroughly and combine with the water and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until the white quinoa displays a little white spiral. Turn off the heat, remove the lid and place a dish towel over the top of the pot. Return the lid and let sit for 15 minutes. The quinoa will now be fluffy. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, combine the lentils, ginger, turmeric and onion half (don't chop it) with 1 quart water and salt to taste (about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons) and bring to a gentle boil. Stir only once to make sure there are no lentils sticking to the bottom of the pot. Reduce the heat to medium - the lentils should simmer briskly - and cook uncovered until the lentils are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in the lime juice or tamarind concentrate and add another 1/2 cup water. Stir together and simmer for another minute. Turn off the heat and using an immersion blender, an Indian mathani (a wooden tool used for mashing dal) or a wooden Mexican hot chocolate mixer, partially pureé the dal. It should be thick but not like a pureed soup.
• Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan or small frying pan (such as an 8-inch omelet pan). Add the cumin seeds and allow to sizzle, stirring, for 10 seconds. Add the garlic and cook until lightly colored, about 15 seconds. Add the red pepper and cook until slightly softened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and pour over the lentils. Add the cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of the cilantro and stir gently. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Serve the quinoa with the dal spooned on top. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.

SPICED CARROT AND ZUCCHINI QUINOA

Steps:

• Combine first 4 ingredients in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add carrots; sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add zucchini; sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Mix in paprika and cinnamon. Add quinoa to skillet; toss to blend. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to baking dish. Cover and chill. Rewarm, covered, in 350°F oven about 15 minutes. Mix in cilantro and serve.

SPICED AND HERBED QUINOA W GREEN ONIONS

Steps:

• Cook the quinoa according to package directions using water or stock. Alow to cool Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss well.

MOROCCAN-SPICED QUINOA WITH ROASTED BROCCOLI AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Cook the quinoa according to package directions. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Toss the broccoli and chickpeas with the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Spread out the mixture evenly onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake the mix for 20-25 minutes, until the broccoli is lightly charred (not burnt). Meanwhile, heat the coconut oil in a pan. Add in the onion and cook for about five minutes. Add in the garlic and spices and cook for about one minute. Add in the cooked quinoa and toss the mix until the quinoa is coated with the spices (you may need to add a bit of water or more oil to prevent sticking). Lightly stir in the roasted vegetables (or just pile them on top). Top with a squirt of lemon juice and a bit of fresh cilantro and serve!