Mexican Quinoa with photo

[quirkycooking]

I've finally gotten around to posting my Thermomix version of Mexican Quinoa! It makes a full 2 litres, so halve it if you don't want that much.  (The toasting at the start helps remove the bitter saponins on the outside of the grain - if you don't have time for this method, just rinse it really well and start at step 2.  Cook for 30 mins.)

1. Weigh quinoa in to Thermomix bowl and cook without oil for 10 mins, Varoma temperature, reverse, speed 1:
- 370g quinoa
Remove from bowl and set aside.

2. Add veges to bowl and chop on speed 5, 4 seconds:
- 1 small onion, halved
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 carrot, quartered (opt.)

3. Add oil and cook for 2 mins, 100 degrees, speed 1:
- 30g extra virgin olive oil

4. Add toasted quinoa, stir for 1 minute on speed 1, until well coated in oil.

5. Add puree and stock, and cook for 25 - 30 mins at 100 degrees, reverse, speed 1, or until liquid is mostly absorbed and quinoa is tender:
- 500g tomato puree (or 100g tomato paste concentrate + 400g water)
- 750g chicken or vege stock (or water + 2 tablespoons vege stock concentrate)
- some semi-dried tomato strips (optional for extra flavour)
 
(If it's still a bit soupy, that's okay - it will soak up the liquid as it sits - you can pour it into your Thermoserver and cover it for a few minutes to absorb liquids.)

Serve with spelt or corn tortillas and salad for a complete meal, or as a side dish with Mexican food.

[Thermomixer]

Thanks Jo - have to try the toasting first trick.  We love quinoa - mainly as salads

[cathy79]

Have made this today, ready for dinner tonight for the kids.  Tastes delicious!

Have you got any other quinoa recipes?  How would you put it in a salad?  Love the protein and nutrition content of this seed.

[Thermomixer]

Main salad we have is like rice salad - vegies like carrots, celery, fruit, nuts etc - but quinoa instead of rice.

We should google as there are heaps of otheres.

[quirkycooking]

Hi Cathy,
here's another one from my blog - Quinoa Caprese - it's a warm quinoa salad.  I haven't made it for ages as it has cheese in it, and I avoid that now because it makes my allergies flair up.  It's really yummy though...
http://quirkycooking.blogspot.com/2009/01/quinoa-caprese.html

I'm afraid I haven't written down the TMX conversion for that one - must do that!!  I'm sure you'll figure it out though. 

[brazen20au]

lol who made that link an email link??
sorry jo, i'll just edit your post to fix that

[quirkycooking]

Oops!  How do you make it a web link?

[brazen20au]

the little pic with the world in it, next to the email
->

[lucyloo]

just posted this in another thread but thanks for the recipe.. easy and very yummy..my first go at cooking quinoa and i will be doing it again.

[ahoney]

Can I. Make this with soaked quinoa?

[quirkycooking]

I'm sure you can - might have to reduce the water a little, that's all. 

[ahoney]

Ok well I did it tonight with the soaked quinoa, firstly I dd the 1st step (toasting) silly idea took ages to get the stuck on bits off bottom of bimby! So then I put it in oven to toast a bit more whilst boiling eater and lemon in TMX to loosen stuff off! Followed rest of recipe except used massel chicken stock powderas havnt made the veg stock paste yet! Turned out yummy, toddler ate 2 Bowles! I did pit a little extra evoo when I added the quinoa though.
Have heaps of leftovers so thinking maybe adding capsicum, cumin or taco seasoning to make a taco filling or capsicum celery and rice crumbs and egg to make patties or something?

[quirkycooking]

Ha ha - yes, you don't need to soak it and toast it - one or the other will do to remove the phytates from the outside of the grain.  We like it in fajitas with sauted strips of capsicum and onion, some sour cream (or df sour cream) and some cheese if you can have it    (Just add some cumin, coriander, chilli powder, garlic powder & oregano - or take a shortcut and use Mexican seasoning!)

[Halex]

Made 1/2 portion. Tastes great.

[JuliaC83]

So so good!!! Made this and served with your Spelt Tortillas, baby spinach and avocado. My "anti-vegetarian" husband absolutely loved them!!