Name: Pistachio Mint Quinoa
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 cup dry quinoa; 2 cups water; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 garlic (minced); 1/2 cup red onion; 1/4 cup shelled pistachios; 1 cup fresh mint; 1 lime (juice & zest)

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Pistachio Mint Quinoa is a wonderful gluten free alternative to using rice or other starches to compliment any main dish!

Fresh mint and crunchy pistachios throughout this quinoa dish make an impressive and stunning side dish. This side dish easily compliments fish, chicken, beef or can stand alone for a simple vegetarian meal by adding more vegetables.

If you’ve never tried quinoa before it’s a wonderful gluten free seed that cooks in 10-12 minutes until water is absorbed and no draining is required. Faster than cooking brown rice or millet or baking a potato!

I love that it’s so versatile! I’ve made a bunch of salads with it but never had experimented with it as a replacement for a starch in a meal. We tried it with some grilled shrimp on top and it was a win!

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Pistachio Mint Quinoa

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Servings:

Calories: 142kcal

Author: Brenda Bennett

Ingredients

1 cup dry quinoa
2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic minced
1/2 cup red onion
1/4 cup shelled pistachios
1 cup fresh mint
1 lime juice & zest

Instructions

Bring water and quinoa to a boil and add salt.
Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes until water is all absorbed.Set aside.
Heat oil and garlic over medium heat in a saute pan, once garlic is fragrant add onion and cook until softened. Set aside.
In a food processor add pistachios and mint and pulse until finely chopped.
In a serving bowl add quinoa, onion garlic mixture, nuts and mint and stir to combine.
Squeeze lime juice over the mixture and serve warm.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition

Tried this recipe?Mention @sugarfreemom and tag #sugarfreemom, I’d love to see your dish!

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6 Comments

Loved this one! Thinking it might be even better tomorrow as cold left-overs! Glad the onion is cooked – takes the powerful edge off it, and leaves it sweet. Thanks!

Brenda says:

August 24, 2013 at 3:43 pm

Thanks, glad you liked it!

I LOVE quinoa but have a hard time getting creative with it. I just made this for a dinner I’m going to tonight and it’s FANTASTIC. Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful recipes!

Brenda says:

August 24, 2013 at 3:43 pm

Thanks Kirsten!

I bet this is as good as my other favorite pomegranate sweet potato quinoa salad

Pistachio Mint Quinoa