A Happy Clean Eating New Year!!

Happy New Year to everyone!! I don't know about you but I certainly have a lot of goals and hopes for 2012. Clean Eating is on the top of that list. Trying new recipes but also sticking with the tried & true ones too.
A recipe that I've made a few times but I absolutely love is fiesta quinoa pilaf.

You can eat it by itself as it has all 9 essential amino acids making it a complete protein. Serve it with a chicken breast or grilled fish for extra protein or even stir it in your vegetarian chili for added health benefits and texture. Quinoa is a nutritional powerhouse and it is naturally gluten-free!!

The great thing about quinoa is that it is so versatile. I've found some recipes that change up this commonly considered cereal-like grain (actually related to leafy greens) and have made it into a breakfast option incorporating raisins, cinnamon and skim milk. Don't feel intimated by something that you've never used before, you might surprise yourself with the possibilities.

Happy experimenting!!

Ingredients:

-1 tsp olive oil
-1/2 yellow onion, diced
-1/2 yellow or orange pepper, seeded and diced
-1 tsp sea salt
-1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1/2 tsp ground cumin
-1/2 tsp chili powder
-1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
-1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained
-2 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
-Juice of ½ lime (about 1 to 2 tbsp)
-1/4 cup chopped scallions
-1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, more for garnish

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, yellow/orange pepper, salt and black pepper and sauté until soft, three minutes. Stir in garlic, cumin, chili powder and cayenne and cook for one more minute. Stir in quinoa and broth.

Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until all liquid is absorbed and quinoa is plumped up. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork and let sit for five minutes, covered.

Stir in lime juice, scallion and cilantro; serve.