Quinoa Goes Cajun

Grab your big ol' iron skillet, just like Grandma used to use. This recipe is part of our Family Skillet Meals that begins on page 57 of the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook. We love quinoa for its nutritional profile. It is full of magnesium and iron, both important for pregnant and nursing women and also for those who suffer from headaches. Eat a quinoa-based meal if you feel a headache coming on; there is evidence it can help relieve headaches due to its favorable effect on the dilation of blood vessels. We also love quinoa because it is gentle on blood sugars, is gluten free (for our gluten sensitive mamas), and because it cooks up super quick.

Cooking Method: Stove Top

Courses: Dinner, Lunch

Servings: 6

Description

Grab your big ol' iron skillet, just like Grandma used to use. This recipe is part of our Family Skillet Meals that begins on page 57 of the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook. We love quinoa for its nutritional profile. It is full of magnesium and iron, both important for pregnant and nursing women and also for those who suffer from headaches. Eat a quinoa-based meal if you feel a headache coming on; there is evidence it can help relieve headaches due to its favorable effect on the dilation of blood vessels. We also love quinoa because it is gentle on blood sugars, is gluten free (for our gluten sensitive mamas), and because it cooks up super quick.

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs ground turkey (thawed, or diced pre-cooked chicken breast)
3 cups Seasoning Blend: onion, celery, green pepper (frozen, diced) (Or: 1 fresh green pepper, 5 celery stalks, 1/2 an onion)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 Tbs butter (or coconut oil)
3 3/4 cups chicken broth (or water)
3 Tbs parsley (dried)
2 tsp creole seasoning (up to 2 1/2 tsp, Tony Chachere's MSG free)
1 1/2 tsp sage (ground)
1 1/2 cups quinoa (rinsed)
15 oz red beans (1-can, drained and rinsed)

Instructions

1
If the turkey is at least 96% lean, put the turkey, Seasoning Blend, and garlic in a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid and add the butter and ¾ cup broth. If your ground turkey is not that lean, brown it first before adding the Seasoning Blend, butter, and water. Once browned, rinse it well under very hot water, return it to the skillet, then add those other ingredients. Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are tender.
2
Add the seasonings and stir well. If your skillet has a tight lid that does not allow steam to escape, add the quinoa and remaining 3 cups broth to the skillet. Bring to a quick boil then immediately turn the heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 15 minutes. If your skillet does not properly seal with a lid, put the quinoa and broth in a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, bring to a boil, then simmer for 12 to 15 minutes.
3
Once quinoa is cooked and fluffy, add the beans, toss everything together in the skillet, and serve in lettuce shells or in a bowl as one big tasty mess!

Note

Recipe Inspired By: Amanda Coers
The idea for this recipe was inspired by Amanda Coers, who is a Trim Healthy Mama with an awesome blog full of great on-plan recipes and Trim Healthy tips. She and her husband have dropped 100 pounds together on THM, and they are both healthier, at goal weight, and filled with a lot more energy for their big, beautiful family. There is Cajun blood in their family, so Amanda is always looking for ways to THMify Cajun foods. She came up with Dirt–E Rice, a recipe that was a big hit in the THM community. We’ve tweaked her idea to include quinoa, but it has the same great flavor. Visit Amanda’s blog for more recipes.

Read it online: https://trimhealthymama.com/recipe/quinoa-goes-cajun/