Herbed Quinoa Recipe

Are you suffering from a phytonutrient deficiency?

I promise you – it’s a thing!

Let me explain. Compared to our ancestors, many of us eat a very bland diet that is comprised of a limited variety of foods. Eating the same few foods over and over again creates a sort of metabolic rut that is lacking in diversity. Herbalist Guido Masé points out that this leaves our cells starving for the signals they need to operate correctly and we end up with a “plant deficiency syndrome” or a phytonutrient deficiency.

Luckily there is a simple solution.

Eating an abundance of herbs and spices is an easy and delicious way to both enliven our foods and create a more complex diet. The intricate constituents found in medicinal plants (e.g., herbs and spices) are converted through a myriad of metabolic pathways which stoke our digestion and rev up our immune system, thereby generally increasing our good health.

And it doesn’t have to be complicated!

I created this quinoa recipe a couple of months ago and have served it to dinner guests numerous times. And whenever I make it, guests ask me to share the recipe. That’s always a clue to me that it’s worthy of an article!

This recipe transforms your basic quinoa into a phytonutrient-dense and delicious side dish.

Before we get to the quinoa recipe, here’s a look at our ingredients.

Quinoa

Quinoa is a nutrient-dense seed from the plant Chenopodium quinoa (a related species to lamb’s quarters or Chenopodium album). Even though this is a seed, we prepare and eat it like a grain (similar to rice).

Quinoa is high in plant proteins and it contains all nine essential amino acids. It is also high in manganese, fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, and folate. It contains antioxidants which contribute to free radical scavenging. ¹

Quinoa also has saponins (soap-like constituents), which act as an anti-nutrient and generally should be avoided. To dramatically reduce the saponin content, it is recommended to rinse the quinoa well before cooking. Roasting it before cooking also removes any slightly bitter tastes left by the saponins.

Thyme and Rosemary and Oregano

These aromatic herbs are all in the mint family. They are also warming in nature and people commonly grow them throughout the world as culinary plants. Because they are ubiquitous, people often dismiss them as simple cooking plants, but these aromatic plants also are some of our best medicinal gems. All are strongly antimicrobial, wonderful for promoting digestion, and filled with complex phytonutrients.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic are two of our most commonly eaten foods. These two plants are from the same genus (Allium) and both contain organosulfur compounds that give them their characteristic pungent taste and odor. These compounds have antioxidant qualities that studies show can support heart health and protect against cancer.²³⁴ They also promote healthy digestion and are delicious!

Parsley

The often ignored sprig of parsley on your restaurant dinner plate is another example of a plant loaded with beneficial phytonutrients. Parsley’s aromatic and dispersive qualities are wonderful for promoting digestion. Parsley also offers lots of nutrients that are important for heart health, including folate and Vitamin K1.

Herbed Quinoa Recipe

This quinoa recipe is a delicious and simple side dish that adds a burst of herbs and phytonutrients to your meal. It’s also a very forgiving dish that you can easily adapt to your palate. You could try adding more garlic, or more oregano and less rosemary, or increase the onions and add some sage for a more earthy flavor. The point of the recipe is to enjoy delicious food while getting an abundance and diversity of phytonutrients.

What you’ll need…

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
• 2 cups bone broth or vegetable broth
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped

Begin by removing the saponins from the quinoa. Put the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under running water for a couple of minutes. Gently rub the quinoa with your hands. Drain and discard the excess water. Set this aside to further drain while you cook the onions.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium high heat in a medium saucepan.

Add the onion and sauté until it becomes translucent and then slightly browned. Add the quinoa and stir for two minutes until the quinoa is slightly toasted.

Push the quinoa and onions to the sides of the pan, creating a well in the center of the pan. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, followed by the garlic and freshly crushed dried herbs, sauté for 30 seconds, stirring frequently.

Add the broth and salt, stir well. Cover with a tight fitting lid and bring to boil, then reduce to a simmer.

Simmer for 20 minutes, while tightly covered. Avoid opening the lid to check on it.

Turn off heat, let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. The quinoa should be moist, but not mushy or crunchy. There should not be anymore liquid at the bottom of the pan. If it’s either too hard or there is too much liquid, return to the stove and cook for another five minutes or until done.

Stir in the fresh parsley leaves.

Serve immediately.

Yield: Roughly 3 cups of quinoa or a side dish serving for 6 people