Monday, May 12, 2014

Adventures in Cooking -- Pizza Quinoa Casserole

When I saw this recipe on my friend Erin's page I just knew I had to try it. It seemed simple, delicious, healthy, and like something Stewart would actually eat.


Pizza Quinoa Casserole
 
Ingredients
1.5 cups dry quinoa
1 medium onion
1 green bell pepper
3 roma tomatoes
1 cup chopped fresh spinach
3 tsp minced garlic
15 oz can tomato sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
1/2 tsp oregano
salt
1 lb Italian sausage (optional)

 
Directions
Preheat oven to 375.
Cook your quinoa (remember to rinse first). Add 3 cups water and quinoa in a saucepan (it expands, so use a large one). Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat. Let simmer for about 15-20 minutes or until water is absorbed.
While quinoa is simmering chop onion, green pepper, and tomatoes.
In a skillet over medium heat, sauté onion and green pepper with a little bit of salt until softened (about 10 minutes).
Add garlic to the skillet, stir, and heat for another minute or two.
In another skillet, brown Italian sausage until it's cooked through.
When your quinoa is perfectly cooked, place it in a large mixing bowl and add tomato sauce, tomatoes, spinach, sausage, 1 cup mozzarella, sautéed vegetables, basil, and oregano.
Stir it up!
Lightly spray a 9x13 glass dish and spread your concoction into the pan, gently pressing down.
Top with 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 20-25 minutes while drooling over the amazing pizza smell coming from your oven.
 


 
Erin's recipe did not call for sausage, but Stew and I like meat on our pizza and the recipe seemed lacking in protein a little bit to me, so I decided on my own to add the Italian sausage and think it came out really well. We loved this dish! It really did taste like pizza, but it's got to be much healthier (although I didn't do an actual calorie count). We ate it for lots of lunches and dinners throughout the week, but it was a LOT of food so we did start to get sick of it near the end. I think next time I might put half of it in the freezer.

But overall it was a pretty quick and easy recipe, and I will definitely be making it again!
 
Enjoy, my friends!
 
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7 comments :

  1. So glad you made it and loved it! Jared would probably love the addition of sausage, but not me. Maybe I'll put some in half of it next time-- good ideas! :)

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  2. Quinoa is very high in protein, so that's probably the reason the recipe doesn't have meat. Looks like a great recipe & adaptable for vegies and meat eaters.

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  3. This looks delicious and I will definitely be making it!

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  4. Oh this looks delish! It would be perfect for my Monday Meals Mashup linkup!!

    atparsons.blogspot.com

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  5. OK. I'm going to have to try this out!!!!!! :)

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  6. I haven't tried Quinoa, but I kind of feel like I should since it seems like everyone else is. I figure if I'm going to try it, this might be the best way to do it! :) What makes things better than sauce and pizza ingredients??

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