I have to admit, I wasn’t a quinoa fan at first sight. I found it bland and a bit texture odd, and I’m all about the texture of food.  But I had heard about and read about (http://www.livestrong.com/article/346908-what-are-the-benefits-of-eating-quinoa/) its great health benefits and so I didn’t give up on my quest for a palatable version of this great protein source.  Well, I think we finally found it when I happened upon this inspiration recipe for a Crispy Quinoa Bake.

To start with, you take the quinoa and rinse it thoroughly for 2 minutes. I’m not sure exactly how the rinsing ordeal affects the final texture outcome, but I’m convinced that it does have some impact on giving this dish a better texture.

After rinsing it, you heat a couple of teaspoons of olive oil in a pan and then add the quinoa, stir a couple of minutes until it begins to dry and pop, and then add the veggie broth. Cover it and simmer until all of the liquid is absorbed – about 20 minutes.

While the quinoa is cooking, sautée one chopped onion and half of a chopped red pepper for about ten minutes.  Then add in a clove of garlic chopped and a couple of medium zucchinis diced. Sautée for another couple of minutes.

Fluff the quinoa with a fork and then combine the quinoa and onion mixture.  To this, add black beans, diced tomatoes, frozen corn, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, and lime juice.

Once everything is well blended, place in a 9×13 casserole dish sprayed with oil.  Bake the whole deal at 375 degrees for 30 minutes. Then sprinkle the top with grated Mexican blend cheese and bake for another 10 minutes until the top is golden brown.

I think it’s great served with a little sour cream and accompanied by some corn bread and a simple green salad.

This dish is also great because you can basically clear out the fridge with odds and ends and put them in the bake.  I have added shredded carrots, kale, chard, brussel sprouts, and scallions to name a few.

For those who like precision, here are the actual quantities:1 cup quinoa, uncooked
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
2 cups veggie broth