Everyday Cooking Recipe ✓ Quinoa Almond Pilaf

High-protein side dish with plenty of flavor and crunch. Rinsing the quinoa three times will help to eliminate any bitterness.

Ingredients

• ½ cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup cold water
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 celery rib, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 8 almonds, coarsely chopped
• 1 small tomato, seeded and chopped
• 2 tablespoons raisins
• ⅓ teaspoon salt
• ⅓ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ⅓ teaspoon dried thyme
• ⅓ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 pinch coarse sea salt

Cooking Directions

1. Combine quinoa, cold water, and salt in a saucepan; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, place a cover on the saucepan, and cook until the liquid is fully absorbed, about 15 minutes.
2. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir celery, onion, carrot, and garlic in the hot oil until the onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir almonds, tomato, raisins, salt, pepper, thyme, and oregano into the vegetable mixture; cook and stir 1 minute more.
3. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and stir into the mixture in the skillet; cook and stir until evenly mixed and hot, about 30 seconds.
4. Divide between 3 plates; sprinkle the top of each portion with a scattering of a few coarse sea salt granules for a surprising crunch of salty goodness.

Nutrition Facts

• calories303.1
• carbohydrateContent33 g
• fatContent17.1 g
• fiberContent5.9 g
• proteinContent6.2 g
• saturatedFatContent2.1 g
• sodiumContent506 mg
• sugarContent8.7 g