Broccoli Cheese Quinoa
My Aunt used to bring her broccoli cheese casserole to our Thanksgiving celebration when I was growing up. I tended to stay away from it because of the dreaded "broccoli" aspect, but it was certainly a crowd pleaser. Now that I'm older and wiser (ha!), I've realized how tasty broccoli is and wouldn't you know I recently had a hankering for a traditional broccoli and cheese dish. The only thing I didn't want was the high calorie intake of such a dish. Lo and behold I came across this lighter version of the casserole.
Made with quinoa, instead of rice, it's a good substitution for those looking to make healthier changes in their diet or for those who prefer to eat less carbs. Quinoa is high in protein and has the consistency of couscous. We love quinoa and try to use it in place of rice and pasta when we can. Another change in the dish is the absence of creamy condensed soup and other fattening ingredients (such as mayonnaise).
This dish is SO easy to make and you'll be completely satisfied with the results. It's packed with that cheesy, broccoli flavor and you won't feel guilty eating it - hello? What more could you want?
Broccoli Cheese Quinoa
*makes about 4 small servings
1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth (you can also use water, but the broth lends more flavor to the dish)
2 cups broccoli, roughly chopped into small florets
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Combine the quinoa, broth (or water), and broccoli into a medium-sized saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once it's boiling, turn down the heat and allow the mixture to simmer, covered, until the liquid is absorbed. Watch it carefully - quinoa can burn on the bottom of the pan.
3. When the liquid has been absorbed, add the cheddar cheese, salt and pepper and stir it into the quinoa. The cheese will melt and bind everything together resulting in total yumminess!
Made with quinoa, instead of rice, it's a good substitution for those looking to make healthier changes in their diet or for those who prefer to eat less carbs. Quinoa is high in protein and has the consistency of couscous. We love quinoa and try to use it in place of rice and pasta when we can. Another change in the dish is the absence of creamy condensed soup and other fattening ingredients (such as mayonnaise).
This dish is SO easy to make and you'll be completely satisfied with the results. It's packed with that cheesy, broccoli flavor and you won't feel guilty eating it - hello? What more could you want?
Broccoli Cheese Quinoa
*makes about 4 small servings
1 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken broth (you can also use water, but the broth lends more flavor to the dish)
2 cups broccoli, roughly chopped into small florets
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Combine the quinoa, broth (or water), and broccoli into a medium-sized saucepan.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once it's boiling, turn down the heat and allow the mixture to simmer, covered, until the liquid is absorbed. Watch it carefully - quinoa can burn on the bottom of the pan.
3. When the liquid has been absorbed, add the cheddar cheese, salt and pepper and stir it into the quinoa. The cheese will melt and bind everything together resulting in total yumminess!
Katie- This recipe is delicious!!
ReplyDelete