Quinoa Recipe 4: Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

This quinoa stuffed peppers recipe is healthy, fast and delicious and can serve as your main course – yes it is possible . This recipe is part of the 30 Ways to Make Quinoa Challenge.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup prepared quinoa (equivalent to a 1/2 dry quinoa)
4 medium yellow, red or orange bell peppers
2 tsp olive oil
2 cups fresh spinach, rough chopped
1/4 cup leeks or 1 small leek, diced
1/4 cup shredded carrot or 1 small carrot shredded)
1 15 oz can navy beans
1/8 cup dried currants or dried blueberries
1/2 tsp garam masala
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare quinoa . In a bowl of water soak quinoa for 15 minutes and rinse. Bring to a boil 1 cup of water then add quinoa and bring back to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to simmer for 11-12 minutes, let stand for 10 minutes. Can be made 1-2 days ahead.
2. Fill a large pot  halfway with water and bring to a boil. Prepare peppers by cutting tops off and removing seeds and ribbing. Once water is boiling add a teaspoon of salt to the water and add peppers, submerging them. Par boil for 4-5 minutes. Remove immediately and let stand in baking dish.
3. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low. Add leeks, saute for 1-2 minutes. Add spinach and saute until spinach is wilted but still bright green.
4. In a mixing bowl combine quinoa, spinach and leek mix, carrots, navy beans, currants. Add garam masala, toss to combine. Salt and pepper to taste.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and scoop mixture into peppers. Bake for 12-13 minutes.

February 1, 2012