Healthy Lunch: One Pot Kale and Quinoa Pilaf
I think this may be the healthiest thing I’ve ever eaten…and it was actually pretty tasty!
This is a very simple recipe that I got from One Hungry Mama but I guess it was adapted from a food52 recipe which uses goat cheese instead of feta. I will have to try this recipe again with the goat cheese! Anyways, I love that it is made in one pot (less cleanup) and packed full of vitamins and nutrients.
Kale has reached superfood status and quinoa is a protein powerhouse and bone builder. I made a few substitutions from the recipe below: I used feta packed with chili oil (from TJs!…yum) and I substituted sunflower seeds for the pine nuts. Why are pine nuts SO expensive? It was either $8 for a bag of pine nuts or $2 for the bag of sunflower seeds. Tasted fine to me! I also bought my kale from TJs which has them pre-cut, washed, and ready to cook for you…anything to make my life easier :)
One Pot Kale and Quinoa Pilaf, barely adapted from Food52
serves 2-4
2 c salted water
1 c quinoa
1 bunch lacinato kale, washed, ribs removed and chopped into 1″ pieces
zest of 1 lemon
juice of 1 lemon, divided
1 Tbsp walnut oil (you can substitute another nut oil or olive oil)
1/4 cup crumbed feta cheese
3 Tbsp toasted pine nuts
2 scallions, chopped (green and white parts)
salt and pepper
1. Bring salted water to a boil in a covered pot. Add the quinoa, cover, and lower the heat until it is just enough to maintain a simmer. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
2. Add kale to the pot, piling the leaves on top of the quinoa. Cover and simmer for another 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, leaving the covered pot on the stove. Allow the kale and quinoa to steam for another 5 minutes. It’s done when all of the water has been absorbed and the quinoa and kale are tender. If the quinoa still has a hard white center, add a little bit of water and steam longer.
3. In the meantime, in a large serving bowl combine lemon zest, half of the lemon juice, oil, feta, pine nuts and scallions.
4. Fluff the quinoa and kale pilaf and add it to the bowl with the zest, juice, oil and other ingredients. Toss to combine. Add remaining lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Serve!
12/05/2011 at 3:27 pm Permalink
mmm… i gotta try this! this looks refreshing and reminds me of stuff i recently had at Lemonade.