Ekins Express

Cooking with Quinoa
(prounounced Keen-wah)

If you're looking for something new, yummy, and even gluten-free, try quinoa. It's a wheat product that looks and tastes kind of like rice? A nice substitute when you get tired of meat or noodle dishes. My friend posted a recipe on her blog that's delicious and easy... check it out:
http://mooshinindy.com/2010/03/30/you-should-cook-more-often/

I found another quinoa recipe from Costco. So good and super healthy you can't get enough!

Quinoa Taco Salad

1 cup quinoa
1 T EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1 red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 t cumin
1/2 t oregano
1 to 2 t chili powder, depending on heat preferences
dash cayenne pepper
Half each red, green and yellow bell peppers, chopped
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained
3/4 C diced tomatoes (fresh or canned)
2 limes
salt and pepper, to taste
6 to 8 ounces baby spinach (I just used Romaine)
1 bunch cilantro
1/3 C cheddar
1 avocado, diced

Cook the quinoa (1 C quinoa to 2 C chicken or beef broth)
Heat EVOO in a saute pan over medium-high heat; add onion and saute for 3 to 5 minutes, until translucent and tender. Add garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, cayenne and peppers; saute an additional 2 minutes.
Remove from heat. Stir in the black beans, tomatoes, and the juice of 1 lime. Stir in quinoa. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Roughly cut spinach or Romaine into strips. Remove about 1 cup of cilantro leaves from the bunch, rinse and pat dry, and toss with the spinach or Romaine. Divide salad onto plates and top with a scoop of quinoa salad. Top each salad with your choice of cheese and diced avocado. Cut the remaining lime into slices to garnish the plates.

Enjoy!