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Herbed lemon quinoa with spinach in a brown pottery bowl.
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5 from 3 votes

Herbed Lemon Quinoa with Spinach

Lemon Quinoa with fresh herbs is a healthy gluten free side that is taken up a notch by a mix of sauteed shallots, bright lemon, parsley, thyme and spinach. If you like, this is an excellent quinoa salad.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Grain salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 269kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups quinoa - rinsed and drained
  • 2 ¾ cups chicken low-sodium broth
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 4 medium shallots finely chopped or red onion to equal ½ cup
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • ½ cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
  • 2 cups baby spinach sliced
  • 1 teaspoon thyme fresh
  • teaspoon red pepper

Instructions

  • In a fine sieve rinse quinoa in cold water.
  • Bring 2 ¾ cups chicken broth to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan. Stir in quinoa, salt, and pepper; reduce heat to low.
    Cook, covered, until liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes.
    Remove from heat; let sit 5 minutes; uncover and fluff with fork; keep warm.
  • Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat; add shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, about 10 minutes.
    Stir in zest and juice and simmer for 1 minute; remove from heat.
    Add the quinoa, baby spinach, thyme, parsley and stir until thoroughly combined.
    Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

Toasting quinoa: 
Toasting brings out the oils and rich nuttiness of grains, lending depth of flavor to a variety of dishes.
1. Place the quinoa in a strainer and rinse under running water until the water runs clear, 1 to 2 minutes.
2.Turn the quinoa into a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
3. Cook as you would normally. 

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 47mg | Potassium: 471mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1360IU | Vitamin C: 10.8mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 3mg