For more recipes with this nutty, versatile pseudo-grain, try our cozy quinoa vegetable stew and autumn quinoa salad with sweet potatoes. It’s a layer of fluffy cooked quinoa combined with all our favorite Mediterranean ingredients: sun-dried tomato pesto, artichoke hearts, and kalamata olives, our homemade Italian seasoning, and cheese. It’s topped with bell peppers, red onions, and more cheese then baked until it’s bubbly. Serve it with some cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs like basil or parsley and dig in! Quinoa is the perfect grain (or pseudo-grain because it’s technically a seed), for this recipe because it’s healthy, tasty, and cooks up quickly. If you have leftover brown rice, you could definitely use that as well. It’s a versatile recipe so feel free to use whatever veggies you have on hand. You could even add in some white beans or chickpeas for added protein. It’s easy to make vegan by using vegan cheese or if you’re a meat eater, add in chunks of cooked chicken breast or sausage. It’s quick to throw together and it all gets mixed in the casserole dish so clean-up is a breeze. It’s perfect for making ahead, and the leftovers taste even more delicious the next day for lunch!
Quinoa – we use regular quinoa, but you can use any variety like red, or tri-color/rainbow quinoa. Sun-dried tomato pesto – a store-bought sun-dried tomato pesto works perfectly for this recipe, and regular pesto works, too. Artichoke hearts – they’re the sweet and tender ‘heart’ of the artichoke. You can find them in small glass jars, usually in the Italian section of your grocery store. Kalamata olives – buy them pre-sliced for easy preparation. Sun-dried tomatoes – sun-dried tomatoes have an intense sweet tart tomato flavor. We recommend using oil packed ones for this recipe. You can also use dry-packed ones but you will need to hydrate them in some warm water first to plump them up. Italian seasoning – try our easy-to-make homemade Italian seasoning, or use a store-bought mix. Garlic – for a sweet and pungent kick, and because it makes everything taste so much better! Sea salt + black pepper – for seasoning, to taste. Mozzarella + feta cheese – we love the combination of creamy mozzarella cheese and tangy feta but feel free to swap for your favorite cheese. Bell peppers + red onion – a colorful mix of bell peppers and red onion are what we use but feel free to swap for your favorite vegetables like chopped zucchini, fresh spinach, carrots, fennel, or broccoli florets. Cherry tomatoes and fresh parsley or basil – for garnish.
And if you love quinoa recipes as much as we do, check out this Mediterranean quinoa salad!
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