Recipe to Try: Toasted Quinoa Pilaf

Become a member | Learn more | Member sign in   January 26, 2015 Want to lose weight without giving up your favorite indulgences, like wine and chocolate? Then take advantage of this FREE 7-day Sonoma Diet online membership offer to try it yourself! Click here for more info. Recipe to Try: Toasted Quinoa Pilaf If you've never heard of quinoa, you're missing out! This "supergrain" is full of zinc and iron and has all the same essential amino acids found in meats, dairy, and soy. Add a bay leaf and some thyme, and you've got one savory treat. PREP: 20 minutes COOK: 20 minutes MAKES:12 servings Ingredients: 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots or onion 6 garlic cloves, minced (1 tablespoon minced) 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 cups quinoa,* or barley, rinsed and well drained 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed 1 bay leaf 1 cup bottled roasted red bell peppers, diced Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper In a large saucepan cook shallots and garlic in hot oil over medium heat until tender. Carefully stir in quinoa or barley. Cook and stir about 5 minutes or until quinoa or barley is golden brown. Carefully stir in broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until quinoa is tender and fluffy (cook barley about 10 minutes or until tender) and liquid is absorbed. Discard bay leaf. Gently stir in roasted peppers. Season to taste with kosher salt and black pepper. Nutrition Facts per serving: 125 cal., 3 g total fat (0 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 169 mg sodium, 21 g carbo., 2 g fiber, 4 g pro. *Note: Look for quinoa at a health food store or in the grains section of a large supermarket. Members Get More! Sign Up Now! Tomorrow:  Eva Gets Back to Basics!  Enjoying this newsletter? Sign up for other free newsletters. More from The New Sonoma Diet!   Connie's Tip of the Day Quinoa Cooking Tip Now that you're in the quinoa club, don't forget this important step before you start cooking: Give this healthy grain a good rinse. While it's still on the plant, quinoa has a bitter-tasting resin called saponin on its surface. Most of this is washed away before quinoa ever makes it into stores, but some of the residue can be left behind. Use a fine strainer and cold water and wash away! Your Sonoma Diet Tools   500 Recipes   Wine Guide   Online Dietitians   Weight Tracker   Message Boards   Shopping Lists Advertisement