Introduction: Tasty Lentils and Quinoa - a One Dish Meal

By www.tenbergen.ca/
About: I like to make stuff and to make things work my way.

I could go on about the nutritional benefits of Lentils (26% protein) and Quinoa (one of the most balanced sets of essential amino acids in a vegetable, and still 12%-18% protein). I think it's more important, though , that this is tasty enough to become one of our family favourites!

Step 1: Ingredients

In spite of its nutritional value, quinoa is not always easy to find. We usually get ours at Scoop-and-Weigh, the local bulk seller. If they have different kinds of quinoa, we usually get the red stuff, just ebcause it adds a bit more colour - they taste pretty similar to me.

Your bulk seller usually also has a better deal on spices than your supermarket, but all other ingredients should be available at your supermarket.

Ingredients
1 tbsp olive oil
2 onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1.5 tsp grounc cumin
1 tsp curry paste
0.5 tsp each cinnamon and salt
4 carrots, sliced
1 cup quinoa (pronounced kee nwa) or rice
2 cups vegetable stock
1 can (19 oz) lentils, drained and rinsed
1 apple, unpeeled and diced
4 green onions, sliced
0.5 cup plain yogurt

Step 2: How to Put It Together...

Heat oil in a skillet or pan over medium heat.
Cook onions, garlic, cumin, curry paste, cinnamon and salt stirring often for about 5 minutes our until softenend.
Stir in carrots and quinoa.
Cook, stirring occasionally for about 1 minute.
Pour in stock and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes until quinoa is tender and most of the liquid is aborbed.
Stir in lentils, apple and green onions.
Cook for about 5 minutes or until lentils are heated through.
Serve with a dollop of yogurt.

I like a LARGE dollop of yoghurt, it adds a bit of a tang.

Enjoy!