Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Asparagus with Quinoa and White Beans



I am not a huge asparagus lover--to me it tastes bitter and usually the stalks are so thick and chewy. But, when I find ultra thin, young asparagus, I'm swayed. Mt favorite way to serve such gorgeous asparagus is to steam it just until it's tender, and to dress it with hazelnut oil, lemon juice and sea salt. Here I served it with quinoa and white beans--super fast and easy.

Quinoa is a tiny little grain, and when cooked reminds me of rice more than anything else. It's very nutritious--here's the Wikipedia blurb.

In contemporary times, this crop has become highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%–18%), making it a healthy choice for vegetarians and vegans. Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source.


7 comments:

  1. I only just tried quinoa a few months ago - and was so intrigued by its health benefits. Unfortunately, I'm the only one that eats it, so I usually make a hot cereal out of it. But it's so good!

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  2. I like quinoa - I need to remember to use it instead of rice since it's so healthy.

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  3. my favorite way of eating asparagus is roasting it in evoo in the oven or to take a plastic bag and put in balsamic, evoo, s&p, and a bit of lemon and let it marinate for 20-30 mins and grill/pan cook. Its so yummy!

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  4. I heart quinoa. I've been wanting to try some hazelnut oil. It sounds delicious.

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  5. Happy Birthday Michele!!

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  6. That sounds delicious Raechel!

    Thanks Sandy!

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  7. I know this is an old post, but have you ever tried broiling or grilling asparagus. Something like The Pampered Chef's Grilling Tray is great for things like asparagus because it allows the air to circulate yet the holes are small enough that they won't fall through.

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