This pesto quinoa is rich, satisfying, and so easy to make. It’s the next best thing to eating a bowl of pesto pasta, and it’s perfect if you’re trying to reduce your refined pasta consumption and up your intake of more nutrient-dense grains.
Key Ingredients in Pesto Quinoa
Quinoa is rich in magnesium, high in plant-based protein and fiber, and contains all nine essential amino acids. It also happens to be gluten free, vegan, and oil free.
Quinoa is pretty quick and easy to prepare. My preferred method of cooking quinoa is to rinse it well, then boil it in a generous amount of water, similar to how you’d cook pasta. Once the quinoa is tender but not mushy, I drain it and allow it to cool. Or you can simply cook the quinoa according to the instructions on the package.
This quinoa recipe calls for baby spinach but you can substitute any other green you prefer. Arugula or kale are good alternatives.
I opted to use walnuts in this recipe but pine nuts, pecans, cashews, almonds, or even hazelnuts would be delicious alternatives. Pesto is traditionally made with pine nuts, but they tend to be quite expensive so feel free to use whichever variety of nut you prefer.
Classic pesto recipes call for plenty of fresh basil, but I enjoy using alternative herbs in my pesto from time to time. So feel free to substitute whichever fresh herb you prefer such as parsley or mint. Just be sure to keep the basic proportions of greens/herbs/nuts the same and feel free to experiment with whatever substitutions are preferable, convenient, or seasonal.
If you’re feeling hungry and craving a more substantial meal that will keep you fuller for longer, you can add some extra fat to this recipe by substituting extra virgin olive oil (or whatever type of oil you prefer) instead of the water in this recipe. I do that sometimes when I’m craving a richer, heartier meal. When I want to keep things light, water works just as well and allows the pesto to blend up smoothly.
Pesto Quinoa Recipe
Equipment
- Blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 2 cups raw baby spinach leaves
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 cup walnuts (or substitute your preferred nut or seed)
- 1 clove garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Optional: garnish with sun dried tomatoes
Instructions
- Cook 1 cup quinoa according to the package instructions.
- Add 2 cups raw baby spinach leaves, 1 cup fresh basil leaves, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 2 tablespoons water, 1/2 cup walnuts, 1 clove garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Mix the cooked quinoa with the pesto sauce and serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- You can substitute whatever greens, nuts/seeds, or fresh herbs you prefer. Just keep the proportions of greens to herbs to nuts/seeds the same as what I’ve specified in the recipe.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
Nutrition
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