Warm Garlic Quinoa You Will Fall in Love With

Let's talk about quinoa! How many ways can you prepare yours? Ask my friends at www.buyconscious.com , and they will tell you - I just may be the Queen of Quinoa! The Queenoa! :) The Holidays are here, and we sometimes forget to eat healthy. It's so easy to get good quality vegan protein into your diet - just take a look at this easy as pie recipe for warm vegan garlic quinoa! You will want seconds, I guarantee it!

Ingredients: (I only use organic)

Quinoa 1 cup dry

Coconut Oil 2 teasp

Mushrooms 1/2 cup

Raw Cashews 1/4 cup

Garlic 3 small cloves or 2 large

Onion 1/4 cup diced

Cherry Tomatoes 1/2 cup

Yellow Bell Pepper 1/2

Spinach 2 cups diced

Rinse the quinoa thoroughly, and put in a pot with 2.5 cups water and a pinch of salt. Quinoa is a bit different from rice, and it needs more water to plump up, but still remain flaky, not clumpy and lumpy.

At the same time that the water with quinoa is taking to boil, heat up a skillet on low heat, and put in the coconut oil, with onions and garlic. Sweat the onions and garlic a bit, and then add the cashews to soften them up, and then the mushrooms. Once that mix has become caramelized, add the tomatoes and the bell peppers. Keep mixing with a wooden spatula until all ingredients are thoroughly blended. Once you see that the tomatoes have become soft, add the spinach, and take off the heat. The warmth of the quinoa will soften the spinach.

Once the water with quinoa boils, take off the burner and cover with a lid for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes have passed, you will see that the water has evaporated, and now you are left with just the ready boiled grain! Transfer to a bowl, mix in the rest of the ingredients from the skillet, and let cool. The finishing touch was a sprinkling of raw flax seeds, you can also top this beauty with shaved parmesan cheese - it is divine!