24 March 2014

Rob's Old Bay Quinoa/Lentils

One of my favorite things to make for myself when I'm cooking just for me is a pot of quinoa mixed with lentils seasoned — of course — with Old Bay®. Other than the fact that it's delicious, filling, and good for me, it's a dish that not only scales (I can make enough for one meal or cook enough to reheat all week), but the basic format of the recipe is a great platform to which I can add other vegetables, a little more spice, or even serve with chicken or fish. A following post will describe a variation on this theme, the one that I am preparing for myself today.
You'll see in the photo that I am using what looks like tri-color lentils, because I just pour the 3 different kinds of lentils I buy into one container for storage.

I also recommend either the red or the tri-color quinoa. I don't like the grassy taste of the white quinoa. You might. I encourage you to experiment!
(Recipe after the jump)


Rob's Basic Old Bay® Quinoa/Lentils (serves 4)


Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 tbsp Old Bay® (to start; keep your can handy)
  • 1/2 cup lentils
  • 1/2 cup tri-color quinoa
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion or 1/8 cup dried onion
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 cup water (or a second cup of broth, your call)
  • 1/2 tbsp tomato paste

Directions

  • Pour the olive oil into the pot in which you normally make rice.
  • Put the pot on the stove at medium heat.
  • As the oil warms, add the Old Bay® and stir it in to the oil.
  • When the Old Bay® is combined with the olive oil, add the quinoa and lentils.
  • Stir everything until the quinoa and lentils are even coated by the oil and Old Bay® mixture.
  • Now stir the contents of the pot occasionally, to brown the mixture.
  • Add in the onion while you are stirring.
  • If you are using dried onion, splash in a little of the vegetable broth.
  • When the onions are wilted (or the dried onion have absorbed the broth), pour in the rest of the broth and stir the mixture well.
  • Turn the heat up to high, continuing to stir the mixture.
  • When the pot begins to boil, add the cup of water and the tomato paste.
  • Stir the pot to dissolve the tomato paste and continue stirring occasionally until the pot comes to a rolling boil.
  • When you have a good boil cut the heat back to low, cover, and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
  • ---
  • After 30 minutes remove the pot from the heat and let it rest for at least 5 minutes; longer if there's other stuff to do; sitting there will not hurt it, only make it better.
  • After resting for at least 5 minutes, remove the lid and stir the pot well to remix the contents.
  • Taste the pot. If it does not have enough Old Bay® flavor for you, grab that can you kept handy and shake some more in, stirring it up.

You can add almost anything to this, or just eat it by itself! I highly recommend some avocado chunks. Possibly also some salt to taste, if you are someone who likes a lot of salt (I do).

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