Food Love: Garlic and Spinach Quinoa

My first official Food Love post! To read more about what it is, click here.

This week the recipe is Garlic and Spinach Quinoa. As I said before, it is one of mine and Vince's favorite new meals and we plan on making it many times this summer!

I love how simple it is. You use a 2 pans, a knife, and a cutting board...that's it! It's also really quick to make and I always make enough for leftovers the next day!

I must admit that I am SO so incredibly lucky to be with a man who absolutely loves vegetables. I have many friends who have boyfriends or husbands who refuse to eat veggies, and I give them major credit for dealing with that. I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to have to 'hide' veggies or have to hear a man complain about what is for dinner! I think it's amazing the lengths that some of these women go to to get their man to eat healthy foods, so kudos! While I love that my man likes veggies, I would also like one who will do dishes, but I guess that might be asking for too much...I can't have it all, right? Hehe.

So without further ado:

Garlic and Spinach Quinoa

Servings: 4           Prep Time: 15 minutes           Total Cook Time: 30 minutes 

Ingredients:

2 cups uncooked quinoa

4 cups vegetable, chicken or beef broth

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

10 baby carrots or 2 large ones, chopped

1 head of broccoli, chopped

1 piece of meat, chopped

salt and pepper

3 cups spinach

2 tablespoons minced garlic {5-10 cloves minces}

1 can black beans, drained

Step 1: Cook quinoa according to instructions on packaging, substituting the broth for water. I cook mine in my rice cooker and it comes out perfectly. 

*Did you know that it's actually really important to rinse quinoa before cooking? I didn't, until I read this article!*

Step 2: In a large pan {I use my cast iron} saute onion, broccoli, carrots and meat in olive oil over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes, or until carrots are softened. Add a generous amount of salt and pepper, to your preference.

Step 3: One cup at a time, add spinach and cook until wilted. If your pan is large enough, you can add all three cups of spinach at on time. Add minced garlic and black beans and allow food to cook for 5-7 more minutes, until the black beans are heated thoroughly.

Step 4: Mix the cilantro into the cooked quinoa and then serve the veggie mixture over it!