Red Quinoa Pilaf with Kale and Corn
Tonight is one of my favorite holiday parties, the High Sierra Veggies and Vegans. There is a bounty of amazing food, and none of it made using animal products.
If you need a quick and colorful holiday dish to take with you to your next event, red quinoa pilaf with kale and corn is just what to make!
I had a hard time pronouncing quinoa when I first started cooking it (kēnwä or keen wa). If you still aren’t sure what or how to use it, it’s a grain high in protein grown as a staple food mainly in South America. Quinoa is a lot like rice getting most of its nutrition from carbohydrates, but it’s higher in protein and dietary fiber. I find it more filling than other side dishes. Red Quinoa is simply a different color then the natural beige although my husband swears the red tastes better, I think it’s all in his head. Some people believe that quinoa has a bitter taste, but that’s quickly eliminated by getting a fine strainer and rinsing the quinoa before using it.
This dish is quick, colorful and the perfect side dish for your next meal or potluck!
Red Quinoa Pilaf with Kale and Corn
1 1/2 cups red quinoa, rinsed
3 cups veggie broth
1 bunch kale
2 TBSP Olive Oil
4-6 cloves of garlic minced
3-4 scallions white and green parts thinly sliced
1-2 cans corn kernels, frozen kernels use 2 cups
2 jarred roasted peppers or 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes cut into strips
2 TBSP lemon juice
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
salt and pepper to taste
Combine the red quinoa with 3 cups of broth in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the broth is absorbed. Set aside
Rinse the kale. Then strip it from the stems and discard. Cut the kale leaves into small strips
Heat oil in large skillet or wok. Add garlic and saute over low heat until golden, about 5 minutes.
Add kale and raise heat to medium. Stir and cover until kale is wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and cook stir frequently for 4-5 minutes. Serve.
If you are taking this perfect side dish to a potluck, it’s easily reheated in the microwave just before serving.
Do you like to cook? What is your favorite quinoa side dish? Know someone who cooks? Feel Free to share.
Want more recipes like these? I post a new recipe every Saturday.
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