Quinoa and Peas

Quinoa and peas is a quick and nutritious dish that takes about 30 minutes to prepare, and you can customize it with dressings, additional vegetables, nuts and seeds. Although generally treated as a grain, quinoa is actually the seed of a plant in the spinach family, which means that it’s also related to beets, Swiss chard and amaranth. It’s also gluten-free, so it’s safe for people who have celiac disease or are gluten-intolerant. Quinoa is also one of the few plant foods that contains all the amino acids we as humans must obtain from our diets, making it a complete protein.

Make a batch of quinoa and peas as a base for weeknight dinners, or offer it as a healthy dish at a party. Because it’s vegan and counts as a gluten-free dinner recipe, nearly everyone can eat it.

Ingredients for Quinoa and Peas

• Quinoa: There are more than 100 kinds of quinoa, but only a few are available in the United States. Use any that you find in the store. Seek it out in the bulk section or in the aisles near items like rice and couscous. You can even use a precooked version for a quick dish.
• Onion: White or yellow onion, shallot or chopped scallion will work for this recipe.
• Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds flavor and nutrition. Sunflower oil or avocado oil are excellent alternatives.
• Frozen peas: Frozen peas maintain their sweetness and texture, so using them is a great move when peas aren’t in season. If you have fresh shelling peas, or even snap peas or snow peas, use those instead.
• Seasonings: Salt and pepper season this simple dish. Use freshly ground pepper if you have the means.
• Walnuts: Toasted or raw, walnuts are a good fit for this entree. Buying walnut pieces from the bulk section is sometimes more economical than buying packaged nuts.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the quinoa

In a large saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the quinoa. Reduce the heat, cover and simmer until the water is absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the quinoa from the heat and fluff with a fork.

Editor’s Tip: If you’d like, add some extra seasoning to the cooking water so that the quinoa seeds absorb the flavor as they cook.

Step 2: Saute the veg

Meanwhile, in a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, saute the onion in oil until tender, two to three minutes. Add the peas and cook, stirring until heated through. Mix in the cooked quinoa, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with walnuts.

Editor’s Tip: If you’re using fresh peas, cook them until they’re a bright green and they’ll taste delicious.

Quinoa and Peas Variations

• Add veggies to the saute pan: Since the quinoa and peas have lots of protein, add veggies to make this dish into a full meal. Shredded red or green cabbage, green beans or shredded carrots could be sauteed along with the onions (just let the combo cook a little bit longer than the original recipe calls for). You could also saute spinach or baby kale along with the peas.
• Use the veggies raw: Any of the above vegetables could be added raw, making this more like a salad. Another great move is to top the bowl with ripe tomato slices and minced fresh herbs.
• Try a dressing or sauce: Add your favorite bottled dressing or make one from scratch. Go with something zingy like lemony Greek salad dressing or a creamy ranch dressing. You could also mix in pesto or roasted cherry tomatoes. Don’t be afraid to get spicy with some homemade hot sauce.
• Scatter on nuts and seeds: Raw or roasted pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds or nuts, such as slivered almonds, walnuts or peanuts, would be nice with this dish. You could also use crunchy corn nuts.
• Make it meaty (or cheesy): This recipe is vegan and gluten-free, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Add shredded roasted chicken, seasoned ground beef or pulled pork to the bowl if you eat meat.

How to Store Quinoa and Peas

Make sure the salad’s well mixed, and store it in the fridge in an airtight container. It will last up to four days. The olive oil should help keep the quinoa from getting clumpy.

How do you reheat quinoa with peas?

You could add a smidgen of water and reheat the quinoa very briefly, covered, in the microwave, or toss it in a little bit of oil in a pan over medium heat (also covered so it doesn’t dry out).

Quinoa and Peas Tips

What’s the best way to rinse quinoa?

Over the millennia, plants have developed various ways of discouraging predators, including thorns, spines and acrid flavors. Quinoa seeds have a bitter chemical called saponin on the outside, so it’s important to rinse the grain before cooking it (some quinoa brands come pre-rinsed, so check the packaging). You can rinse the seeds in a sieve under cool running water for two minutes, or soak the quinoa for a few minutes, drain it and then rinse it briefly.

What can you serve with quinoa and peas?

Because quinoa is a high-protein food, you can pair it with vegetable side dishes to make a full meal. I like it beside a sauteed squash medley, easy baked mushrooms and cumin-roasted carrots. Because quinoa is originally from Peru, it’s also nice to serve it alongside a Peruvian ceviche, pumpkin and shrimp ceviche, or spicy Peruvian potato soup.