CHEESY QUINOA PILAF WITH SPINACH

Cheesy Quinoa Pilaf with Spinach image

This creamy pilaf incorporates the fluffy, nutty-flavored grain, quinoa, with a decadent and delicious goat cheese gouda. This has an amazing flavor and texture. Try serving with steamed salmon. I think this would work well with pine nuts as well as a variety of other cheeses. Try regular goat, Parmesan, blue, etc.

Provided by alliecat3

Categories Side Dish Grain Side Dish Recipes

Time 40m

Yield 3

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

¼ cup quinoa
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
2 teaspoons lemon juice
⅓ cup grated goat gouda cheese

Steps:

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the quinoa, and cook until the quinoa is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain in a mesh strainer, and rinse until cold; set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, stir in the sunflower seeds, and cook until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic, and cook until the garlic softens and the aroma mellows, about 2 minutes. Stir in the cooled quinoa and spinach; cook and stir until the quinoa is hot, and the spinach has wilted. Stir in the lemon juice, and all but a pinch of the cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted. Serve sprinkled with the remaining cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 233.3 calories, Carbohydrate 10.5 g, Cholesterol 13.2 mg, Fat 18.9 g, Fiber 1.2 g, Protein 6.1 g, SaturatedFat 5.1 g, Sodium 48.7 mg, Sugar 0.4 g