Monday, August 9, 2010

{QUINOA STUFFED ZUCCHINI}

Quinoa is a super healthy grain that can be found in bulk in health food stores, or in flavored boxes at normal grocery stores. If you buy it in bulk, it does need to be rinsed before cooking

½ c. quinoa, rinsed*
1 c. water
4 medium zucchini
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 c. grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
½ c. nutritional yeast
½ c. almonds, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
¼ c. bread crumbs
1 t. water



• Preheat oven to 400.

• In a large saucepan, brown the quinoa over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add 1 c. water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender and the water is absorbed, 12-15 minutes.

• Meanwhile, cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Arrange the zucchini in a large baking dish, cut-side up.

• Fluff the quinoa and fold in the beans, tomatoes, nutritional yeast, almonds, and garlic.

• Spoon the quinoa mixture into the zucchini.

• Combine the bread crumbs and the water and sprinkle over the quinoa and zucchini. I sometimes spray the tops with a bit of spray butter, too.

• Cover with tin foil and bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Remove the tin foil and bake another 8-10 minutes, until bread crumbs are golden brown.

• Serves: 4

* You may also use flavored quinoa in this dish, such as Sun-dried Tomato Basil or Savory Herb. I usually just use plain quinoa but add some basil and Italian Seasoning to the water I cook it in. *

1 comment:

Rebekah said...

made this tonight. i thought it was good, but not great. we liked it enough to try to tweak it a bit to make it great. i think i'll take tine's suggestion to flavor the quinoa. probably just cook it in broth. may also cook the zucchini alone for a few minutes first, possibly seasoned with some garlic salt and nutritional yeast. i have high hopes.

(the quinoa worked great in a pressure cooker: high, 2 minutes, natural release for 10 minutes, then quick release. (pressure released in 6 minutes, and i didn't have to do the quick release.))