Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Red Quinoa Taco Salad



I adore red quinoa. I was informed about this "Super Grain" a few years back & have been experimenting with it ever since. As a tidbit of history knowledge quinoa (keen-wa) comes from the Andes Mountains in South America. It was used in the Inca civilization as a staple food & was respected as the "Mother grain." It contains more protein than any other grain & is considered a complete protein with an essential amino acid balance close to that of milk.

I think it's great as a substitute for ANY grain, but it's also a FANTASTIC substitute for meat. I didn't want to shock you too drastically, so instead I slipped it into this recipe with meat & beans. Talk about a jam packed protein meal! And delicious to boot. So fill those sweet little bellies with goodness.

Red Quinoa Taco Salad
30 minutes

1 lb. of beef (Sprout's organic grass fed beef is fantastic)
1/2 c. red quinoa, cooked (boil 1 cup of water, add 1/2 c. red quinoa, reduce heat & cover for 15 mins., fluff with a fork)
1 packet of McCormick's TACO seasoning (Or make your own. More power to ya.)
1 can of kidney beans, drained & rinsed
tortilla chips (I used the Trader Joe's Veggie & Flax Seed Chips. Great for taste & color.)
Guacamole (I used T.J.'s fresh guacamole kit. If you do, make it fast, they don't keep long, but it's DIVINE.)
spinach or romaine
1 tomato, diced
cheese

sour cream


Brown meat & drain off the fat while cooking the quinoa in a separate saucepan. Add taco seasoning & follow the directions on packet. Combine beans & cooked quinoa & simmer until thoroughly warmed. Dice necessary ingredients & let everyone build their own creations.

Enjoy!


P.S... If the comment tally on this post can reach 20 comments before the weekend... I'll leave my other favorite recipe for quinoa on Saturday for the weekend... Something I NEVER do. It will BLOW your minds! How bad do you want it? Go buy some red & white quinoa pronto.

14 comments:

  1. We love red quinoa too! This sounds great...but I want to know your other recipe now, too. If 19 other people don't comment, I might be forced to make 19 more myself, just to get to 20...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mmmmm..sounds yummy! I'm always on the hunt for meat-free meals. Do you think I could leave the ground beef out and go straight Quinoa and beans?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Surely. It will be fabulous! You sneaky minx getting a comment out of me. :)

    P.S. You get your nifty tote in the mail? Shipped it before we left to Cali. Hope it made it there safe & sound.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Mmmm...sounds delicious. I want the other recipe! Please people... leave a comment! =)

    ReplyDelete
  5. That looks amazing! Should I be embarrassed that I didn't know there are different color options for quinoa??

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks sooo good. Where do you get your quinoa?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mmmmmmm. I will be trying this asap. Is your quinoa from Sprouts too? I want the other recipe....

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well, just for your comment, I'll leave another (I know, sneaky, right?) Yes! I got the tote! I...I mean...my daughter loves it! Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maybe Heather will be nice and still post the recipe for those of us who DID comment?! Pretty please? :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jen, I was thinking the same thing. But in the meantime, I just keep coming back to comment. Maybe she won't notice I left three. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'm making the red quinoa taco salad for sunday dinner!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love the other recipe! I love your cooking! :) You have soooo many Yummy recipes that i would love, love, love to have! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm happy to get another recipe.
    Lori-Kay

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have never tried the red quinoa, I have some that just says "organic quinoa". I am trying to broaden our horizons, so I am looking for all the healthy recipes I can find. This sounds yummy and I hope you'll post your other one too.

    ReplyDelete