Tag Archives: Quinoa

Vegan Christmas Dinner

The Christmas season is upon us, so I thought I would share my vegan christmas dinner recipe which I made last year. It’s so delicious I’m going to make it again this year! This tasty vegan christmas dinner consists of Quinoa Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms & Roasted Root Vegetables with my Raw Chocolate Brownie and Banana & Cashew Ice Cream for dessert!

Vegan Christmas Dinner Vegan Christmas Dinner Vegan Christmas Dinner P1010135

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 Carrots

2 Sweet potatoes

8 Brussels sprouts

1 Red onion

2 Garlic cloves

2tbsp Rapeseed oil

4 Portobello mushrooms

100g Quinoa

50g Walnuts

1tbsp Thyme

1/2tsp Himalayan pink crystal salt

1/2tsp Black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the fan oven to 200C.

Wash the vegetables. Cut the ends off of the carrots and sweet potatoes and slice them lengthways, arranging them in layers in a baking dish. Cut the Brussels sprouts in half and add to the baking dish with the sliced red onion. Place in the peeled garlic cloves cut into quarters. Drizzle over the rapeseed oil.

Place the baking dish in the hot oven for 30 minutes.

While the vegetables are cooking, prepare the stuffed portobello mushrooms. Firstly weigh out the quinoa and and place in a pan of hot water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 12 minutes. When the quinoa has absorbed most of the water, add in the chopped walnuts. Season with the thyme, salt and black pepper and mix in well.

Cut the stems out of the portobello mushrooms. Now spoon the quinoa mixture into the portobello mushrooms.

After the 30 minutes, remove the baking dish from the oven and carefully place the 4 stuffed portobello mushrooms on top of the roasted vegetables. Return to the oven for 15 minutes.

Serve 2 quinoa stuffed portobello mushrooms and half the roasted vegetables per person.

For dessert, make my Raw Chocolate Brownie and Banana & Cashew Ice Cream

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:21]

Gluten-Free, Vegan Quinoa & Brown Rice Pancakes

Happy Pancake Day everyone! Today I’m going to be making my quinoa and brown rice pancakes which are gluten-free and vegan! The almond milk replaces the dairy milk and the flaxseed binds the mixture instead of the eggs!

Quinoa & Brown Rice Pancakes

Makes 6Strawberry Pancakes

75g                 Quinoa

75g                 Brown rice

1tbsp              Desiccated coconut

1tbsp              Flaxseed

1tbsp              Agave nectar

300ml             Almond Milk

300ml             Filtered Water

If you have a Vitamix blender, pour in the quinoa and rice and blend until it has formed a fine flour. Alternatively you can cook the quinoa in filtered water for 15 minutes and brown rice for 40 minutes and then place them in the blender.

Add the desiccated coconut, flaxseed, agave nectar, almond milk and water to the blender. Mix until it has formed a liquid batter.

Heat a small pan over a low heat. Pour in enough batter to form a medium sized pancake.

Cook for about 2 minutes until there are bubbles throughout the surface and you can easily peel away the pancake from the pan. Flip over and cook for another 2 minutes until golden brown. Pile the pancakes on top of each other on a plate.

Add a fruit topping of your choice such as sliced banana, strawberries or raspberries. Drizzle with agave nectar and lemon juice. Delicious served with spoonfuls of nut butter.

Serve warm and enjoy!

Quinoa & Mushroom Risotto

P1000990This tasty Autumnal dish is high in protein with the mushrooms and quinoa.

I went out to the woods on the day and picked wild mushrooms which taste amazing! Had to identify them first as many wild mushrooms are poisonous!

You would cook the quinoa as you would the rice in a risotto, by simmering and adding water as necessary.  P1010056

Serves 2

Ingredients

1tbsp              Coconut oil

1                     Small red onion

80g                 Mushrooms

1tsp                Thyme

150g               Quinoa

500ml             Filtered water

1/4tsp             Pink Himalayan salt

1/4tsp             Black pepper

Method

Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan. Chop up the onion and add to the hot pan. Now slice the mushrooms and add to the pan. Fry until the mushrooms are browned.

Now pour in the quinoa. Add the thyme and stir in. Fry for a minute, then pour in the filtered water.

Bring to the boil, then put the lid on and simmer for 20 minutes.

Check the pan regularly and add extra water when the quinoa is looking dry. Quinoa absorbs water very quickly!

When cooked, add in the salt and pepper and serve immediately!

Quinoa Porridge

This light and fluffy porridge is delicious and takes only 5 minutes to make! The quinoa flakes are much quicker to cook that ordinary quinoa and can be purchased from most health food stores. Chia seeds and flaxseed give you a boost of omega-3. Quinoa is a good source of protein to keep you feeling full.

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Serves 1

Ingredients

75g (5tbsp)                 Quinoa Flakes

1tbsp                          Chia Seeds

1tsp                            Flaxseed

150ml                         Almond Milk

½ tsp                          Ground Cinnamon

Method

Add the quinoa flakes and seeds to a small pan. Pour in the almond milk. Turn on the heat to low.

Once it starts to bubble, cook for 5 minutes stirring regularly.

Turn off the heat. Pour into a bowl. Add a sprinkling of cinnamon.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

 

Optional: Add some diced mango on top.

Vegan Chocolate Muffins

Treat yourself to these delicious yet healthy gluten-free, vegan chocolate muffins! They are perfect to have as an afternoon snack and will satisfy your sweet tooth! The quinoa and brown rice make them high in vegan protein!

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Makes 12

90g                 Quinoa

90g                 Brown Rice

1tbsp              Coconut Oil

2tbsp              Ground Flaxseed

3tbsp              Cacao Powder

4tbsp              Agave Nectar

1tsp                Apple Cider Vinegar

2tsp                Baking Soda

1/4tsp             Pink crystal salt

300ml              Almond Milk

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Grease each section of a muffin tray with coconut oil.

Add all the ingredients into a Vitamix blender. Blend for 30 seconds until well mixed.

Next spoon the mixture into the 12 sections of the muffin tray. Fill up each section to about ¾ full.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 25 minutes.

When they are cooked, leave them to cool for 5 minutes and then carefully remove each muffin and place on a rack to cool.

Store in a cool, dry place and eat within 5 days.

 

My Vegan Chocolate Muffins recipe is featured in the ChefChili app!

ChefChili

Vegan Quinoa Special Fried Rice

This high protein combination looks to me like a vegan version of special fried rice! The pinkish haricot beans look suspiciously like prawns, the golden quinoa like fried rice and the avocado like egg! It is my new favourite main meal as it is so delicious! I always go back for seconds!

You could try the recipe with rice, but I prefer quinoa as it is a higher source of protein and quicker to cook. Peas and beans are also great sources of vegan protein.

P1000579P1000574   P1000584

Serves 2

150g                           Quinoa

100g                           Frozen Peas

1 can (250g)               Haricot Beans

½                                Ripe Avocado

1/4tsp                         Pink Crystal Salt

1/4tsp                         Black Pepper

1                                 Small carrot finely chopped (optional)

Cook the quinoa and peas in boiling water for 10 minutes, until all the water has been absorbed.

Rinse the beans in a colander. Cut the avocado in half, cut slices into the flesh and peel off the skin.

Add the avocado slices and beans to the cooked quinoa and peas. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well.

Serve warm. Store the leftovers in a container in the fridge.

Quinoa and Lentil Burgers

This is my favourite meal and I eat it several times a week during the summer. These delicious quinoa and lentil burgers can be stored for 3-4 days and are quick to make for lunch or dinner. They are delicious served on my Avocado & Artichoke Salad with 3 tsp of hummus and a handful of bean sprouts.

P1000371

P1000235P1000236   P1000367r

Makes 4 Burgers

Ingredients

125g               Red Split Lentils

100g               Quinoa

500ml             Filtered water

1                          Carrot

2tbsp               Pumpkins Seeds

Handful           Fresh Parsley

1/2tsp             Ground coriander

1/4tsp             Pink Crystal Salt

1tsp                Coconut Oil

Instructions

Soak the pumpkin seeds overnight.

Cook the quinoa and lentils in the filtered water for about 10 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed. Once cool, pour into the blender.

Cut up the carrot and add to a blender with the pumpkins seeds, parsley, coriander and salt. Blend for 1 minute.

Pour out onto a sheet of baking paper and roll out to about 1/2inch thick. Cut into 4 segments with a knife. Shape into round burgers.

Melt the coconut oil in a small non-stick pan. Place a burger in the hot pan and cook each side for 5 minutes on a low heat until golden and crisp.

Serve the quinoa and lentil burgers with your favourite salad.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge and eat within 3-4 days.

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:16]

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

Treat yourself to these tasty gluten free blueberry muffins for an afternoon snack! They are made using quinoa and brown rice flour and are 100% gluten free!

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins

Makes 12

Ingredients

75g                 Quinoa

75g                 Brown Rice

2tbsp              Ground Flaxseed

1tsp                 Apple Cider Vinegar

2tbsp              Desiccated Coconut

4tbsp              Agave Nectar

30g                 Raisins

75g                 Walnuts

1tsp                 Baking Soda

1tsp                 Cinnamon

1/4tsp             Pink crystal salt

300ml             Almond Milk

150g               Blueberries

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Rinse and then ground the quinoa and brown rice in the blender.

Add in all the ingredients except the blueberries into the blender. Blend for 1 minute until well mixed.

Now stir in about 100g of the blueberries.

Next, spoon the mixture into the 12 sections of a muffin tray. Fill up each section to about ¾ full. Drop the extra blueberries on top.

Bake in the oven for 25 minutes.

When they are cooked, leave them to cool for 5 minutes and then carefully remove each muffin and place on a rack to cool for about 15 minutes.

Quinoa & Brown Rice Pancakes

These quinoa & brown rice pancakes make a delicious breakfast on a lazy Sunday morning. They are gluten free and easy to digest.

Quinoa & Brown Rice PancakesQuinoa & Brown Rice PancakesQuinoa & Brown Rice Pancakes

Makes 6

Ingredients

75g                 Quinoa

75g                 Brown Rice

300ml             Almond Milk

1tbsp              Desiccated coconut

1tbsp              Ground flaxseed

1tbsp              Agave nectar

1/4tsp             Himalayan pink crystal salt

Method

If you have a Vitamix blender, pour in the quinoa and brown rice and blend until it has formed a fine flour. Alternatively you can cook the quinoa in filtered water for 15 minutes and the brown rice for 40 minutes and then place them in the blender.

Add the almond milk, desiccated coconut, flaxseed, agave nectar and salt to the blender. Mix until it has formed a liquid batter.

Heat a small pan over a low heat. Pour in enough batter to form a medium sized pancake.

Cook for about 2 minutes until there are bubbles throughout the surface and you can easily peel away the pancake from the pan. Flip over and cook for another 2 minutes until golden brown. Pile the pancakes on top of each other on a plate.

Add a fruit topping of your choice such as sliced banana, strawberries or raspberries. Drizzle with agave nectar.

Serve warm.