Apple and Walnut Quinoa Pilaf

This works well as either a main dish or a side one, just depending on your appetite. Oddly enough the teenager loved the dish, but for him and Kirk it wasn’t “filling” enough. I had a bird appetite last night so it was plenty for me…..ah well, that is what cereal is kept on hand for 😉 To fill them up if I make too “slimming” of a meal!

Apple and Walnut Quinoa Pilaf

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 sweet onion, peeled and diced
• 2 crisp apples, peeled and cored, diced
• 1 cup carrots, peeled and sliced thin
• 1 tsp garlic, minced (2 cloves)
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 3 Tbsp apple juice or cider
• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp agave nectar or honey (non-vegan)
• ¼ tsp ground allspice
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• ½ cup raw walnuts, finely chopped

Directions:

Rinse the quinoa well and shake off. Add it, water and salt to a medium saucepan, bring to a boil. Turn down to low and cover, let cook for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile in a large skillet over medium heat, add the oil, onion, apples, carrots and garlic. Saute until tender-crisp, turn off the heat.

Whisk the cider vinegar through pepper. Add the hot quinoa to the vegetables, tossing gently and then add the sauce, gently stirring. Let sit for a couple of minutes and then mix in the walnuts.

Serves

3 to 4.

~Sarah