Savory red quinoa with onion and garlic is an easy, satisfying and healthy side dish that’s perfect for any meal. Bonus – it’s also gluten free, protein rich and delicious!
Savory Red Quinoa with Onion and Garlic:
Quinoa is pretty much a perfect food. It’s an ancient seed that dates back to the Incas in Peru. It cooks up really quickly like rice, and has a satisfying chew. What’s even better is how good it is for you. Quinoa is a rare complete plant protein, so if you’re a vegetarian, or just trying to eat healthy, it’s a perfect option for you. Also like rice, quinoa doesn’t have a lot of flavor on it’s own, so it’s a nice blank canvas to use in recipes. Recipes like this delicious savory red quinoa with onion and garlic!
BTW – If you’ve never made it before, check out this link for tips on how to cook quinoa (so easy!).
The Ingredients:
To help give the quinoa that nice, savory flavor, I like to add stock and aromatics like onion and garlic.
The Prep Work:
I used red quinoa for this recipe, but white, or any other color quinoa (purple, green, orange, black (!), etc) work just as well. They all cook in the same amount of time, and taste pretty much the same, with a little variation on texture. If your quinoa doesn’t say “pre-washed” on the container, make sure to rinse it well, or soak it in water for a few minutes before cooking.
Start by sauteing your onions in the olive oil for 5-6 minutes, until they soften up and start to caramelize. Next add the garlic and saute for another minute or so. Finally add your stock or water and the rinsed quinoa.
Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover and get ready for the hard part. The waiting….. But it’s only 15-20 minutes! So there’s actually no hard part at all.
The Payoff:
I like to serve this savory red quinoa with onion and garlic as a side dish to almost any roasted meat or veggies.
Quinoa also works really well as the base to a burrito or veggie bowl, or a main dish salad. I love using red quinoa leftovers for a simple quinoa side salad.
Start with a big bowl of this savory red quinoa with onion and garlic, then let your imagination take over. You could add some oregano and Parmesan for an Italian flare! Or give your quinoa a Greek flavor just by changing the herbs, or tossing it with a vinaigrette, like in this Mediterranean quinoa salad.
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Savory Red Quinoa with Onion and Garlic
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 40 minutes
Description
Savory red quinoa makes a great, gluten free, protein rich side for any meal!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
- 1–2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 cup of quinoa, well rinsed
- 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock (or water)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a 2 quart saucepan over medium heat
- Add onions and saute for 5-7 minutes until softened and starting to caramelize. Add the garlic and saute for another minute or so. Sprinkle the onions and garlic with the salt as you’re sauteing. You could add other spices in this step too if you like.
- Add the rinsed and drained quinoa and stock to the saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and cover. Simmer on low for 15-20 minutes. Take off the lid and use a fork to check the bottom of the pan to make sure the liquid has been absorbed. If not, put the cover back on and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. If the liquid is mostly absorbed, put the cover back on, remove from the heat and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork and serve!
Notes
- I would only add the salt if you are using water or low sodium chicken stock, otherwise the finished quinoa may taste too salty.
- If you’d like to add an Italian flavor to the quinoa, add 1 teaspoon dried oregano and 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes in step 2. Finish with a grating of Parmesan cheese.
