Best 6 Versatile Quinoa 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 PILAF

Steps:

• In a small nonstick saucepan coated with cooking spray, cook onion and carrot in oil for 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the broth, water and salt; bring to a boil., Add quinoa. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from the heat. Fluff with a fork.

QUINOA PILAF WITH PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Put the broth and quinoa in a medium sized saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until liquid is absorbed and grain is tender.
• Meanwhile, toast the nuts in a large dry skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown and fragrant, about 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove nuts from pan and set aside. Heat the oil in the same skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook stirring occasionally, until the onions soften and begin to brown, about 6 minutes.
• When the quinoa is done, fluff with a fork and transfer to a large serving bowl. Stir in the pine nuts, onions, and parsley. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

QUINOA AND LENTIL PILAF

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large nonstick skillet and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and just beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt and garlic and continue to cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, another 30 seconds to a minute. Add remaining oil and stir in quinoa and lentils. Add herbs and pepper, stir together, taste and adjust salt. Remove from heat and serve, adding a squeeze of lemon to each serving.

VERSATILE QUINOA PILAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 190 celsius.
• Toast quinoa in pan until its dry and popping. Let it pop for a few minutes while keeping it moving in the pan. Pour into casserole dish with a lid.
• Puree the tomatoes, stock cubes and garlic in a food processor or blender until very smooth and creamy. You need exactely 4 cups of this mixture. If you don't have enough you can add a little water to make up the difference. Add this mixture to the quinoa.
• Sautee the onion until lightly browned and add to the casserole dish. Mix it very well, put the lid on and bake for approximately 45 mins to 1 hour until the tails of the quinoa are visible and the grain is translucent. Fluff with a fork.
• FOR Mexican quinoa; add 3 chopped jalapenos and 1 finely chopped green capsicum on top in the last 20 minutes Also add 1 tbsp of tomato paste to the puree in the blender. Plus 1/2-1 bunch of chopped cilantro mixed through once it's out of the oven.
• FOR SPICED QUINOA; Fry a couple of tbsps of your favourite curry paste with the onions and add 1 cup of frozen peas in the last few minutes of cooking as well as nuts such as cashews or sliced almonds and sultanas. Garnish with coriander.
• FOR MEDITERRANEAN: Add 2 stalks of finely chopped celery and saute with the onions. Add a dash of white wine. Add 1 tsp of dried oregano, 1 tsp of dried basil, 1 tsp of dried marjoram and 1 tsp of chili flakes and mix through before baking. Add 1/2-1 bunch of chopped parsley, 1/4 cup of fresh oregano and 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil and mix through once cooked.
• Optional: 1-2 cups of chopped mushrooms well fried.
• Raisins.
• Pine nuts.
• Fried eggplant.
• Finely chopped red capsicum.
• 1 cup of frozen peas.

CHICKPEA-QUINOA PILAF (VEGAN)

Steps:

• In a small stockpot over medium heat, saute the onions in olive oil for about 7 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 2 more minutes.
• Add the tomato paste, coriander, cumin, black pepper, and salt; saute for another minute.
• Add the quinoa and saute for 2 minutes.
• Add the chickpeas and broth; cover and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, lower the heat to very low, cover, and cook for about 18 minutes, or until the quinoa has absorbed all the water; stir occasionally.
• Fluff with a fork and serve.