Buffalo Chicken Quinoa

I have made lots of different dishes with quinoa but this recipe is one of my favorites. It really incorporates all the yummy flavors you expect of buffalo chicken - the heat from hot sauce, nice chunks of chicken and to cool things off some goat cheese. Blue cheese would also be a great substitute if you don't like goat cheese and my friend Julie, who came over and ate this dinner with us said that slices of celery in it would also be a yummy addition and I agree. I am not sure it's the healthiest of quinoa recipes (loads of cheddar cheese) but it sure is delicious. 

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa
From Iowa Girl Eats 
Printable Version
Serves 4-6
Ingredients 
1 1/4 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 chicken breasts 
garlic powder
onion power
salt and pepper
smoked paprika
2 tablespoons of flour
1 1/2 cups of milk, dived
2 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons Frank's Red Hot Sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chevre (goat cheese) crumbled

Directions
Preheat broiler. Cook quinoa according to package directions and set aside. SEason chicken breasts on both sides with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and smoked paprika. Cook in a nonstick pan sprayed with cooking oil over medium heat until cooked all the way through. Chop into bite sized pieces. 
Whisk together flour and 1/2 cup of milk in a separate large pan over medium heat. Pour in the remaining milk and green onions. Using a spatula bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook for one minute while boiling. 
Remove from the heat and add in the hot sauce and cheddar cheese. Stir until the cheese is completely melted. Add in the quinoa and chicken and stir to combine. 
Pour into a non stick spayed casserole dish and top with the chevre. Broil for 5 minutes or until the cheese is golden and the sauce is bubbly. 

Greek Quinoa Salad

Please forgive the poor lighting in these photos - they were taken during a typhoon! I made this yummy, healthy and very filling salad for hubby and I to enjoy during our last typhoon - we've had four in Okinawa this year and let me tell you, it's getting old. But this Greek Quinoa Salad made being stuck indoors listening to the howling wind and watching the torrential rain a whole lot better. I love the traditional Greek flavors in this dish - feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, lemon, and olive oil. I wanted this to be a meal in itself so added in grilled chicken breasts. 

Greek Quinoa Salad
From With Style & Grace
Printable Version
1 1/2 cups quinoa 
2 cups water or chicken broth
1 heaping cup of cucumbers, quartered
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup Kalamata olives (I completely forgot these!)
1/4 cup red onion, chopped
2 green onions, chopped
1 lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons white or red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup feta cheese

Directions
In a medium pot bring water or chicken broth and quinoa to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cover for about 17 minutes. When all the water is absorbed remove and fluff with a fork. Allow to cool. 
In a large bowl combine cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and onions. 
Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper to make the dressing. 
Stir the vegetable combination into the quinoa then pour the dressing over everything and stir to combine. Add in feta and stir lightly. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Cilantro Lime Quinoa

I made this Cilantro Lime Quinoa as a side dish with tacos while my parents were visiting and everyone raved about it. It's bursting with flavor and couldn't be easier to make. My husband, who isn't a huge fan on quinoa, even liked this. Rice could also be substituted if you don't like quinoa or don't have it on hand.

Cilantro Lime Quinoa
From Two Peas & Their Pod
Printable Version
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 cups vegetable broth (I used chicken)
1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions
In a large pot bring the 2 cups of broth to a boil. Stir in the quinoa and cook until the broth is evaporated and quinoa is tender, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile whisk together garlic, lime juice, cilantro and sugar. Pour quinoa into a medium bowl and fluff with a fork. Pour the lime cilantro mixture over the quinoa and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve warm. 

Southwestern Quinoa Salad

I've finally jumped on the Quinoa bandwagon. When we were shopping at Costco a couple of weeks ago, I saw an enormous bag of Quinoa and decided to purchase it to see what all the hype is about. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is all the rage in the food blogging world. I read up on it to share a little bit of info with you:

• Quinoa is an amino-acid rich seed
• It is a relative of spinach and swiss chard
• It includes all nine essential amino acids
• It is a good source of magnesium, iron, copper, and phosphorus
• It is gluten free

Basically, quinoa is extremely healthy and has a lot of health benefits. I am using it in my cooking as a substitute for rice or Cous Cous, but in my reading I found it is commonly used in soups. Please share with me your favorite way to use quinoa, as this is all new to me! 

I was browsing some of my favorite food blogs for ideas to use my quinoa and found this recipe for Black Bean and Bell Pepper Cous Cous Salad on Beantown Baker. I loved how Jen's salad uses so many of hubby and my favorite flavors: corn, black beans, cilantro, lime. Although Jen's salad uses Cous Cous, I substituted quinoa and added fresh sliced avocado on top. This salad was so filling and flavorsome. I loved the taste of  all the veggies with the zesty citrus dressing. The quinoa added a nutty, grainy taste and was a perfect addition. We ate it chilled for two days. It will be hard to find a more tasty use of quinoa!

Southwestern Quinoa Salad

Adapted from Beantown Baker

Makes 8 Servings

Printable Version

Ingredients

1 cup cooked quinoa

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

8 green onions, chopped

1 red bell pepper, seeded

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (my store was out so I used cilantro in a tube - great substitute)

1 cup corn (I used frozen corn kernels, thawed)

2 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

Cook 1 cup of quinoa according to directions and set aside. In a large bowl whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, vinegar and cumin. 

Add green onions, red bell pepper, cilantro, corn, and beans and toss to coat.

Fluff the quinoa and break up any chunks. Add the quinoa to the bowl with the veggies and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.