Quinoa With Chicken And Lentils Recipes

SPICY CAJUN CHICKEN QUINOA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the chicken with the Cajun spice and arrange in a single layer in a roasting tin. Bake for 20 mins until the chicken is cooked. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, cook the quinoa in the chicken stock for 15 mins until tender, adding the apricots and lentils for the final 5 mins. Drain and place into a large bowl with the chicken, toss together.
• While the quinoa is cooking, heat the oil in a large frying pan and soften the onions for 10-15 mins. Toss the onions into the quinoa with the coriander and some seasoning, then mix well.

SPICED YELLOW LENTILS WITH QUINOA

Steps:

• Rinse the quinoa thoroughly and combine with the water and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until the white quinoa displays a little white spiral. Turn off the heat, remove the lid and place a dish towel over the top of the pot. Return the lid and let sit for 15 minutes. The quinoa will now be fluffy. Keep warm.
• Meanwhile, combine the lentils, ginger, turmeric and onion half (don't chop it) with 1 quart water and salt to taste (about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons) and bring to a gentle boil. Stir only once to make sure there are no lentils sticking to the bottom of the pot. Reduce the heat to medium - the lentils should simmer briskly - and cook uncovered until the lentils are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in the lime juice or tamarind concentrate and add another 1/2 cup water. Stir together and simmer for another minute. Turn off the heat and using an immersion blender, an Indian mathani (a wooden tool used for mashing dal) or a wooden Mexican hot chocolate mixer, partially pureé the dal. It should be thick but not like a pureed soup.
• Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan or small frying pan (such as an 8-inch omelet pan). Add the cumin seeds and allow to sizzle, stirring, for 10 seconds. Add the garlic and cook until lightly colored, about 15 seconds. Add the red pepper and cook until slightly softened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and pour over the lentils. Add the cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of the cilantro and stir gently. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Serve the quinoa with the dal spooned on top. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.

QUINOA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring chicken broth and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic in hot oil until onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add ground chicken and break into small pieces while cooking until completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Stir cooked quinoa and diced tomatoes into the chicken mixture; bring to a simmer and cook long enough for the flavors to meld, about 10 minutes more.

LENTIL QUINOA SALAD

Steps:

• Put the quinoa in a sieve and rinse in cold water. In a large microwave-proof bowl with a cover, add the rinsed quinoa and 1 1/4 cups water. Cover and microwave on high for 9 minutes. Let it sit for 2 minutes then stir. Quinoa should be tender enough to eat, but with a little "pop" upon biting.
• Put the lentils in a sieve and rinse in cold water. In a saucepan, simmer the lentils in 2 cups water until the lentils are tender, but not mushy, about 30 minutes. Drain and cool.
• In a small bowl, whisk the mustard and vinegar together, and drizzle in the oil to make an emulsion. Add the garlic powder, lime zest, and salt, and pepper, to taste.
• To assemble the salad: In a medium salad bowl, mix the quinoa, lentils, green onions, and chopped cilantro. Top the salad with the dressing, toss to coat and serve.

QUINOA WITH CHICKEN AND LENTILS

Steps:

• Put the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, add the quinoa and cook until it is translucent and tender and the threadlike germ wraps around each kernel, 8 to 12 minutes. Strain the quinoa well, return it to the saucepan and stir in the lentils; cover and keep warm.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until deep golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, lemon zest, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and stir until toasted and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup water and scrape up any brown bits. Add the chicken, bring to a simmer and cook until almost all of the liquid evaporates and the chicken is moistened, about 2 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the green beans in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon water. Cover and microwave until hot, about 3 minutes.
• Add the chicken-onion mixture, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt to the quinoa-lentil mixture and stir to combine. Divide among four bowls. Top each with greens beans, almonds and a dollop of yogurt.

LENTIL AND QUINOA CHILI

Steps:

• 1. Heat olive oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot, add garlic and cook for a minute or until fragrant and slightly golden.
• 2. Add onion and pepper and cook for a few minutes or until onion is translucent.
• 3. Add in tomatoes, cumin, chili, cinnamon, curry powder, and pepper; bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 6-8 minutes or until tomatoes begin to break down.
• 4. Add broth, quinoa, and lentils, and bring back to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until lentils are tender and quinoa has expanded.
• 5. Stir in black beans, kidney beans, salt and cilantro. Chili will continue to thicken.
• 6.Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Simmer a few more minutes.

MEXICAN QUINOA WITH CREAMY CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Bring 2 cups water and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until quinoa is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in 3 garlic cloves, chili powder, salt, paprika, and red pepper flakes with a wooden spoon. Add chicken; cook and stir for about 5 minutes. Pour in remaining 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
• Stir corn, peas, peppers, and spinach into the skillet. Cover and cook for 5 minutes more. Mix milk and flour together and pour into the skillet; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
• Divide quinoa among 4 serving plates. Scoop chicken and vegetable mixture on top. Whisk lime juice and remaining garlic together in a bowl; drizzle over each serving.