Healthy Recipe Week: The Wannabe Chef

Happy day two of Healthy Recipe Week! I think there are many of us who strive to get more veggies in our diets. What better way to sneak them in than in one healthy and flavorful dish? Evan, The Wannabe Chef has submitted the below post which is chock full of nutrition but also has some great additions like honey. This is at the top of my to-make list for healthy lunches. For more mouthwatering recipes and to follow Evan’s very cool internship, be sure to check out his blog!

Photo Source

Ingredients(Makes 4 to 6 servings):

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 small onion, diced
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter or cooking oil
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups fresh or frozen spinach
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon chopped parsley

Start by heating up your butter or oil over medium heat in a large pan.

Chop all of your vegetables and add them into the heated pan. Keep an eye on this and stir for about 10-15 minutes until the onion is translucent and just beginning to caramelize.

While that’s cooking, measure out your quinoa. Rinse and drain it first to remove the saponin.

*If you’re using a rice cooker, add your quinoa and two cups of water in and turn it on to the appropriate setting.

**If you’re using the stove, wait until the vgetables are done coking. Then add the quinoa and water into the same pot and bring it to a boil. Cover the pan and turn off the heat and wait for the quinoa to absorb the water.

Add in your salt, pepper, and parsley right before cooking.

Once the quinoa is fully cooked and the water has been absorbed, add in the honey and spinach and fold them into the mix. Serve hot.

http://www.thewannabechef.net/2011/01/13/vegged-out-quinoa/