Mar 4, 2010

Curried quinoa with cauliflower

I’m quickly becoming a quinoa freak.  Aside from the intriguing texture and sweet nutty taste, it’s a complete protein source and is easy to digest. What more do you want in a 6,000 year-old grain?  (Or chenopod, to be specific.)

Tonight I whipped up this delicious one-dish curry, which took about 45 minutes in all.  I used red quinoa, which has a nice earthy flavor, but regular white quinoa would be fine, too.

Be sure to top this dish with toasted almonds and a simple raita (plain nonfat yogurt with grated cucumber and pinches of cumin and salt.)

Curried Quinoa with Cauliflower

2 tablespoons oil (canola, high-oleic safflower, or olive oil)
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 carrot, cut into 1/2 inch half-moons
1 small head cauliflower, broken into small florets
1/4 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
5 teaspoons curry powder
1/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 cup water
1 cup frozen peas

1 cup quinoa (recommend Ancient Harvest’s no-rinse variety)

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion, garlic and carrot, and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the cauliflower, spices and salt, and cook for another minute. Add 1 cup water, then cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Add the peas during the last minute of cooking.

Meanwhile, cook quinoa according to the package directions. Mix the curried vegetables into the quinoa and serve. Top with nonfat yogurt, soy yogurt or raita, and toasted slivered almonds.

See more recipes: Entrees, Gluten-free, Vegan

Comments

  • Quinoa is fun to eat, but it’s even more fun to say (but it’s not so much fun to spell). I just read something this morning saying that quinoa should go on everyone’s list of healthy things to eat daily. Plus, it’s easy to make!

  • Time for you to write about another forgotten grain: kasha! That deliciously nutty taste that is usually boiled out of existence in bad knishes.

  • Brian

    I’ll be making this.

  • […] Curried Quinoa with Cauliflower by Cathy at What Would Cathy Eat […]

  • Made this for dinner this evening. It was great! Thanks for sharing :)

  • Pareech

    The recipe looks amazing. Does anyone know if there is something I can use instead of the almonds as my girlfriend is allergic to all forms of nuts or is it something I can leave out all together?

  • whatwouldcathyeat

    Hi Pareech. You can leave out the almonds, or if your girlfriend can eat pumpkin seeds, roasted pepitas might be a good substitute!

  • Pareech

    Thanks for the info. I’ll see what is available at my local store and give one of your suggestions a try.

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