Quinoa Couscous Risotto Recipes

CREAMY QUINOA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Rinse quinoa twice and drain well.
• Pour chicken broth into a saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Melt butter in a separate saucepan over medium-high heat; saute onion and garlic until onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Stir quinoa into onion mixture; cook, stirring frequently, until quinoa is toasted and coated in oil, about 3 minutes.
• Slowly pour wine over quinoa mixture; cook and stir until wine is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Ladle 1/2 cup chicken broth over quinoa mixture; cook, stirring frequently, until absorbed, 3 to 5 minutes. Continue ladling broth, 1/2 cup at a time, over quinoa mixture; cook, stirring frequently, until quinoa is tender and has burst, about 20 minutes. You may not use all the chicken broth.
• Mix Parmesan cheese and cream into quinoa mixture; season with marjoram, thyme, salt, and pepper. Add a splash of chicken broth to make quinoa more creamy, if desired.

THREE-CHEESE-AND-MUSHROOM QUINOA RISOTTO

Steps:

• Cover the dried mushrooms with 1 cup hot water, and set aside until softened, 5 to 10 minutes; drain, and chop, reserving the soaking liquid. Put the butter or oil in a large, deep skillet or saucepan over medium heat. When it is hot, add the shallots and dried and fresh mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shiitakes begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add the quinoa, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it's glossy and coated with butter or oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and then add the wine. Stir, letting the liquid bubble away. Add the porcini soaking liquid, being careful not to pour in any sediment.
• Start adding the stock about 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition and adjusting the heat to maintain a gentle bubble. When the stock is nearly evaporated, add more. Continue to cook, stirring frequently and adding stock as necessary; the mixture should be neither soupy nor dry.
• Begin tasting the quinoa about 20 minutes after you added it; you want it to be tender but not mushy and to have released some of its starch. Once it reaches that stage, after about 25 minutes, stir in the cheeses, along with a little more butter or oil if you like. Stir until the cheeses melt; taste and adjust the seasoning, and serve.

COUSCOUS RISOTTO

Steps:

• Place oil in a 14- by 9- by 2-inch oval dish. Cook, uncovered, at 100 percent in a high-power oven for 2 minutes. Stir in onion and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in spices and cook for 3 minutes.
• Stir in couscous and pour broth over mixture. Cook for 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven. Stir in salt and pepper.

QUINOA-COUSCOUS "RISOTTO"

Steps:

• Heat oil in high-sided skillet (with lid) over medium-high heat. Sauté red onion for 2 minutes. Add garlic and green onion and continue sautéing for 1 minute.
• Stir in remaining ingredients (except almonds, salt and pepper).
• Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
• Remove lid and stir in almonds. Mixture should be "creamy". Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve.