Easy Summer Quinoa

I've been wanting to try making quinoa at home, but for some reason it has always scared me. I thought this recipe would be a good way to try it at home. Plus it had most of my favorite summer veggies.

Yum! The quinoa was very easy to prepare and the rest of the dish came together very quickly. I think it will make great lunch leftovers, too!

I didn't add any wine and the sundried tomatoes I had were dried, not packed in oil. I also took the suggestion to use veggie broth because I wanted it to be a vegetarian recipe (and it's easy to make vegan simply by leaving off the cheese). It might even be good with some beans added!

Easy Summer Quinoa

Serves 4

Ingredients:
scant 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 cup quinoa

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
pinch red pepper flakes
2 cups chopped kale (about 1/2 bunch – I used lacinto kale)
1 small zucchini, chopped
salt & pepper
2 ears sweet corn kernels (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes packed in oil, cut into strips
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 cup peas
1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
shaved or fresh grated parmesan cheese, for topping

Directions:

Bring scant cup chicken (or vegetable) broth to a boil in a small saucepan. Rinse quinoa very well in a fine mesh sieve under running water (quinoa is coated in a natural, bitter coating that needs to be rinsed off) then add to saucepan, place a lid on top, turn heat down to medium-low, then cook until quinoa is tender and broth is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in a very large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots then saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and red chili pepper flakes then saute for 30 more seconds, stirring constantly. Turn heat up to medium-high then add kale and zucchini. Season with salt and pepper then saute for 2 minutes. Add corn and sundried tomatoes then saute for 2 more minutes.
Add white wine then scrape up brown bits from bottom of skillet with a wooden spoon. When wine is nearly gone, add peas then stir to combine. Add chicken broth and cooked quinoa then cook until broth is absorbed. Remove skillet from heat then add basil and stir to combine. Taste then add salt and pepper if necessary. Serve topped with freshly shaved or grated parmesan cheese.