Happy Wednesday!!! I’m off to Salt Lake City today for SNAP! Conference! But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something FABULOUS here for you today. The wonderfully talented Carrie from Kenarry: Ideas for the Home is here today to share with you all Easy Family Dinner Ideas! So please give Carrie a nice warm welcome. When you are done grabbing this recipe, head over to her place & say hello.

Hi, I’m Carrie from Kenarry: Ideas for the Home filling in today while Gina’s away at the SNAP Conference. I’m excited to share a recipe with you for Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes. Nowadays a quick search on the internet for “quinoa recipes” will give you millions of results. Nevertheless, it’s always fun to experiment with this super grain. I enjoy combining it with different vegetables, sauces and flavors to see what new tasty concoctions result. I recently made a big batch of quinoa in my rice cooker, then added onion, garlic, parmesan and spices. I threw in some sun dried tomatoes to create a new delicious recipe you can enjoy as your main course or as a side dish — Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes!

Whether you’re keen on quinoa or trying it for the first time, you can hardly believe how many health benefits there are in such a tiny little grain. In the Forbes article, 7 Benefits of Quinoa: The Supergrain of the Future, Julie Wilcox shares how quinoa includes all nine essential amino acids, is high in protein and contains almost twice as much fiber as other grains. She also mentions quinoa has iron, lysine, magnesium and anti-oxidants. If you haven’t tried quinoa yet, you really ought to add this nutrient rich grain into your diet. For more about the health benefits of this super food, you can also check out the World’s Healthiest Foods website.

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Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Ingredients

4 cups cooked quinoa
3/4 cup of grated parmesan
1 medium onion chopped
3.5 oz packet of sun dried tomatoes cut into julienne strips approximately 1 cup
3 teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups of milk

Instructions

In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
Add onion and garlic. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onion starts to turn clear.
Stir in flour.
Slowly add milk and parmesan.
Lower the heat and stir continuously until the sauce starts to thicken.
Mix in salt, pepper and italian seasoning.
Add the pre-cooked quinoa and stir until it's well coated. Heat thoroughly for 10 to 15 minutes.
Last add the sun dried tomatoes and continue to cook for a few more minutes.
Serve and enjoy.
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 30 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 40 minutes

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.

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NOTES: To make 4 cups of cooked quinoa in a rice cooker, use 1 1/3 cups of rinsed uncooked quinoa and 2 2/3 cups of water.

Serving Suggestions for Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Creamy Garlic Parmesan Quinoa with Sun Dried Tomatoes has enough protein and essential nutrients it can be enjoyed as your main course. A friend of mine added julienned spinach to pack in even more goodness. You could throw in slow cooker shredded chicken for a high protein dinner. We served it as a side dish with dill tilapia. (Sprinkle the tilapia with salt, pepper, garlic and dill. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.) You could also serve it alongside grilled steak or chicken and your favorite steamed vegetable or salad.