Which one should I use?

[theyellowhobbit]

I'm visiting arctic_alpine and alanscottevil this weekend, and arctic_alpine's friend is having a meal, which I have been asked to cook for. Deli Roll was vetoed, since it's a veggie meal [I'll die without meat! A whole week of milcheigs! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!] Lasagna was vetoed because someone is making a pasta casserole. Biscotti is impractical since they don't have a food processor and I don't have time in Philly. Chocolate chip cookies were vetoed because someone is bringing a cake.

And then I thought...

Quinoa!

I haven't had it since last passover, and I have no clue how to make it. But arctic_alpine has a big bag of it, and said I could make a dish. So I looked up recipes online and found 2 that sounded good. Any thoughts on which I should make? Or do you know any other quinoa recipes?


*Fancy Quinoa Pilaf*

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

1 cup quinoa, rinsed well
2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup raisins, dried currants, or dried cranberries (whichever you like!)
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

1) heat olive oil, add lemon zest and quinoa; saute until quinoa starts to heat and the aroma of lemons is strong.

2) add your dried fruit, stirring to coat.

3) add orange juice, and steep until all liquid is gone.

This pilaf is great with a sour or salty main dish, or as a breakfast dish! It also, when hot, works well in a mold, for really fancy presentation.

Serves: 8-10

Preparation time: 30 minutes (or less!)


-----------------------------------------
*Quinoa Rice Pilaf*

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

2 cups cooked quinoa (save some cooking water with it)
1 cup cooked basmati rice (leftover is fine)
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 or 5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped (a handful)
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Saute onions and garlic in oil; add basil, sage, celery seed, salt and pepper and cook until onions are soft but not brown. Add quinoa and rice, saute 5 to 10 mins, adding some of the quinoa water as necessary to keep moist.

Serves 4 side dish or 3 main dish.

Preparation time: 20 mins


It also occurs to me that I haven't posted my [groovin_reuven's mom's] recipe for biscotti. And I gave the recipe to Janet Monge today, so I might as well post it here for all of you. Can you imagine her coming in to the anthro museum with a tray of biscotti??

Comments

[alanscottevil.livejournal.com]

I like to cook onions and mushrooms and seitan in a little oil, with ginger and garlic and other spices, and mix that with steamed asparagus on top of quinoa.

[platypuses.livejournal.com]

I would like to note that I'm a big fan of your fake-meat deli roll :-D

[sen-ichi-rei.livejournal.com]

I wonder what would happen if I gave my teachers deli-roll...Do you think they would all give me A+s?

[rivka-m.livejournal.com]

I think qinoa is generally a hit with the veggie/ natural crowd