12 Steps to Whole Foods

Making Plant-Based Main Dishes
QUINOA MAIN DISH RECIPES
Power Food, High in Protein
(* = Grain / Legume combo “perfect protein” dish)
The following five recipes feature quinoa, the base of some of my family's favorite dinners. 12-Stepper Kris
says that she often puts any salad dressing from Chapter 3 (page 75) on some cooked quinoa (10-15 min.
simmered in 2 parts water to 1 part quinoa). She says every one she has tried tastes fantastic. I also recommend
tossing into the mix any variety of your favorite chopped raw veggies to make an easy, complete meal. This is
one of our favorite dinners on nights we are running around to kids’ soccer and baseball games.
Another thing I love to toss with quinoa is sweet potato sticks sautéed in coconut oil, seasoned any way you
like it and with a bit of sea salt.
Pecan-Cranberry Quinoa
1 C quinoa, rinsed well (soak for a few minutes, then drain in a fine strainer)
1 Tbsp. coconut oil
1 clove garlic
2 C water
½ C pecans, chopped and toasted under broiler or in dry sauté pan
1 orange, red, or yellow bell pepper, diced
½ C dried cranberries
2 green onions, chopped (use most of the green part)
C chopped cilantro
½ tsp. sea salt
optional: ¼ C dried apricots, finely chopped
Dressing:
2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
¼ C fresh orange juice
1 tsp. grated orange zest
¼ C extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp. agave (raw, organic)
1 Tbsp. dried basil
In a saucepan, sauté the garlic in the oil, then add the quinoa and stir until toasted. Add the water and bring to a
boil. Turn the heat down and simmer for 15 min. Blend the dressing ingredients in a high-powered blender.
Toss the cooked quinoa with all other ingredients and the dressing (or any Chapter 3 (page 75) dressing that
features orange, lemon, or lime juice—such as Green Goddess Dressing (page 88) or Lemon-Lime Dressing
(page 94). Serve cold or hot.
172 12 Steps to Whole Foods
© Copyright Robyn Openshaw