Zucchini Spiced Quinoa

Zucchini Spiced Quinoa

By Namit Kathoria

 

Soaking time: Overnight

Preparation time: 15 min

Cooking time: 15 min

 

Serves 2-3 people.

Ingredients:

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup quinoa

1 ¼ cups vegetable stock (if you are using an Instant Pot)/ 2 cups vegetable stock (if you are using a normal pan)

1 white onion sliced

1 large ripe tomato diced

1 medium zucchini/ ½ large zucchini diced

2 cloves

2 cardamom pods (broken open)

½ teaspoon hot paprika

½ - ¾  inch ginger grated

 

 

Preparation:

1. Soak the quinoa overnight, rinse it through the next morning and rub it through with your fingers to remove any bitter saponins.
2. Heat up some of the oil (if you are using an Instant Pot set it to the sauté function) on a medium to high heat with one piece of the onion. Once it starts to sizzle, add in the rest of the onion and the tomato. Cook for 4-5 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and the tomato becomes soft. Deglaze with some water if needed to prevent burning.
3. Add in a bit more oil, the paprika and the ginger. Cook for 30 seconds stirring constantly so nothing burns. Again deglaze with some water if needed.
4. Now add in a bit more oil and the zucchini. Cook for another minute and stir so that the zucchini starts to absorb the flavour of the paprika and the oil. Again deglaze if needed.
5. Add in the quinoa with more oil if needed and constantly stir for about 2 minutes until the quinoa starts to become a little bit golden and a little bit red. Again deglaze if needed.
6. If you are using an Instant Pot switch off the sauté function now. Add in the clove, the cardamom pods and the vegetable stock. Close the lid and move the valve to the sealing position. Cook for one minute and wait for the natural release to happen. If you are using a normal pan cook for around 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent burning at the bottom.
7. Taste, make sure that the quinoa has absorbed all of the liquid. See if you need to add in any more of the paprika or see if you feel you need to add in a little bit of sea salt.
8. Fluff up the quinoa with a fork and remove the cloves and the cardamom pods.

 

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.