Shitake and Red Pepper Quinoa

 Shitake and Red Pepper Quinoa

By Namit Kathoria

 

Soaking time: Overnight

Preparation time: 10-15 min

Cooking time: 15 min

 

Serves 2 people.

Ingredients:

½ cup quinoa

⅝ cup of vegetable stock if using an Instant Pot/ 1 cup for a normal pan

50g shitake mushrooms sliced

50g chestnut mushrooms sliced

1 carrot diced

1 small red pepper sliced

1-2 tablespoons raisins

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

¼ teaspoon hot paprika

¼ teaspoon Himalayan rock salt

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

 

Garnish with sunflower seeds and chopped chives.

 

Preparation:

1. Soak the quinoa overnight, rinse through the next day and rub through with your fingers to remove any bitter saponins.
2. Heat up some of the olive oil (if you are using an Instant Pot use the sauté function) on a medium to high heat. Once the oil is hot, add in the vegetables, the mushrooms, the paprika and the rock salt. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Deglaze with some water if needed to prevent burning.
3. Now add in the fennel seeds with a little bit more of the olive oil. Stir and cook for about 30 seconds more.
4. Now add in the quinoa with a little bit more oil. Mix through and cook for 1-2 minutes more and make sure that all the quinoa becomes golden. Make sure you stir constantly and again deglaze with water if you need to in order to prevent burning at the bottom of the pan.
5. Add in the vegetable stock and the raisins and mix well. If you are using an Instant Pot switch off the sauté function now. Close the lid and set the valve to the seal position. Cook for one minute and wait for the natural release to happen.  If you are using a normal pan cook for 15 minutes. Make sure the quinoa has absorbed all of the liquid.
6. Taste the quinoa and add more paprika, salt or raisins if needed. Fluff up with a fork.
7. Garnish with the sunflower seeds and the chives if desired.

 

Where does your protein come from?

It comes from the quinoa which has all the essential amino acids that the body needs.

 

To get more inspiration for healthy plant-based recipes please see our new nutrition and recipe book “Life” which is due to come out in 2022.