Kale and Chickpea Quinoa

Lately it seems like the only thing that I blog about is the recipe that I make from Foodie Friends Friday Linky Party but lately that is the only place I have to go and get some great recipes.  This week again I have a superb recipe ~ and I found it on...... You guessed it right Foodie Friends Friday. This recipe is downright fantastic and even my husband liked it and he is not a fan of quinoa.  When we first found quinoa I made it at least every other night and my husband gets tired of things very quickly, so when he heard I was making quinoa for dinner the other night.... his nose went up and he wasn't very excited.  To my surprise he ate it and went for seconds and today when we were eating seconds he jumped at having more.... That is how good it is.
Where is the recipe from you may ask... It is from The Veggie Nook and the recipe is called Quinoa with kale, raisins and chickpeas.  I am not vegan so did use some animal products in mine and I also used some different veggies.... But, I know I will be making this again and the leftovers even tasted better then the first day!

Kale and Chickpea Quinoa

Ingredients:

2/3 cups dry quinoa, rinse well

1 1/3 cup water mixed with maggi cube (chicken flavour)**

2 cups kale torn in pieces

small amount of spinach

1 tsp coconut oil

2 cloves garlic minced

small amount of banana peppers minced

1/4 cup onions sliced very thinly

1/2 cup mushrooms

1/4 cup green beans

1/2 cup cooked chick peas*

1/4 tsp seasalt

1/2 cup yellow or red cherry tomatoes ( I cut mine into quarters)

* was going to put in 1/4 cup dried cranberries - but I forgot.

*I approximated all my ingredients... I don't measure except for the quinoa and water I cooked them in. 

* Cook dried chickpeas in water until soft.  I do not soak mine before I cook them.  I rinse and then cook them in water with a small amount of salt.  Keep adding water until chickpeas are soft and don't  burn them like I just about did... I got to the stove just as they were starting to burn.

** You could use chicken broth or veggie broth instead of  maggi cube mixed in water.

Place quinoa and broth in large saucepan and bring to boil.  Turn heat down to simmer until almost all the liquid is absorbed.  In last couple of minutes add kale and spinach and give a stir.  Cover and cook for another 2 minutes.  Set aside.

Heat a large pan over medium heat, add oil and saute garlic, banana peppers and onions until starts to turn brown. Add mushrooms and green beans.  Cook until green beans are starting to get soft.  Add chickpeas and cook until warm.  Add quinoa and seasalt, stir well.  After everything is warm and just about ready to serve, add cherry tomatoes and cook for one minute.  Serve.

For leftovers we just heated everything up again and Enjoyed.

This is a recipe that I think you could add just about any vegetable you want into it.  I think I will be doing some experimenting the next time I make it.

Til next time <3 <3 <3 Marlys

Linked to these great parties: Foodie Friends Friday,  Gluten Free Friday Recipes #4