If you love a classic recipe for Spinach and Cremini Pilaf, you will love this fresh new take on the traditional pilaf recipe you’ve used for years. Quinoa Spinach Pilaf with Cremini Mushrooms has countless health befits with a massive bonus of a delicious flavor. You are combining white quinoa, shallots, minced garlic, cremini mushrooms, and fresh baby spinach with a hint of lemon.

Now, we all know I love my Southern foods, such as Cajun and Creole. However, one can not live a life of all down-home cooking, and balance is critical. So you all know after the last seven recipes we need a bit of balance in our lives. This recipe is perfect for the balance factor and the health benefits alone—WOW! Is all I can say.

In case you haven’t had a chance to read up on this fantastic food called quinoa, below, I have taken the liberty of sharing some great facts and health benefits of this quick-cooking pseudo-whole-grain Americans have come to love over the last three years.

Facts About Quinoa

• Quinoa grows in a rainbow of colors, and the most commonly available are red quinoa, black quinoa, and white quinoa.

• The taste and nutrition are similar among the colors of quinoa. White quinoa tends to cook up fluffier while the red quinoa and the black quinoa have a crunchier texture.

• Quinoa is renowned for its protein content; it’s not the amount of protein that’s so Quinoa has the perfect balance of all nine amino acids.

• Quinoa also has multiple phytonutrients which have anti-inflammatory actions.

• Quinoa has a higher good fat content and can give valuable amounts of heart-healthy fats like monounsaturated fat in the form of oleic acid.

• Quinoa may also give small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids.

• Quinoa is a valuable source of vitamin E.

• Quinoa has over twice the amount of calcium compared to grains, ounce per ounce.

• Quinoa’s nutrient benefits are not altered by cooking.

Below you will find my super-easy recipe for Quinoa Spinach Pilaf with Cremini Mushrooms packed with nutritional benefits and simple to find ingredients with a short cooking time of 30 minutes or less.

Ingredients needed 

• One tablespoon of unsalted butter

• Two finely chopped shallots onion

• Two minced garlic cloves

• 1/2 of a pint of cremini mushrooms sliced thinly

• One cup of white quinoa

• Two cups of vegetable broth

• Three  cups of fresh baby spinach 

• One tablespoon lemon zest

• One teaspoon chopped dill weed

• Juice of one lemon

• Kosher salt to own taste

• freshly ground black pepper to own taste.

Quinoa Spinach Pilaf with Cremini Mushrooms

hmccallum

If you love a classic recipe for Spinach and Cremini Pilaf you will love this fresh new take on the classic pilaf recipe you’ve used for years.

5 from 6 votes

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 20 mins

0 mins

Total Time 30 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Calories 147 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 shallots finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 pint cremini mushrooms sliced
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup white quinoa
• 3 cups baby spinach chopped
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
• kosher salt to own taste
• freshly ground black pepper to own taste

Instructions

 

• In a large saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat.
• Add finely chopped shallots, minced garlic cloves, and thinly sliced cremini mushrooms; cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add 2 cups of vegetable broth, quinoa and bring to a strong boil. Reduce the heat to lowest setting and lightly simmer, covered, until water is absorbed, about 15- 20 minutes.
• Stir in fresh spinach leaves spinach, lemon zest, chopped dill weed, juice of 1 lemon, and season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to your own taste.
• Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 01Calories: 147kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 6gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 331mgPotassium: 454mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 1632IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Quinoa Spinach Pilaf with Cremini Mushrooms

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© Heidy L. McCallum and The McCallum’s Shamrock Patch, 2020- 2013 unauthorized use and/or duplication of content/ material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Heidy L. McCallum and The McCallum’s Shamrock Patch with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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