Tuesday 31 May 2011

Quinoa Log With Broccoli and Tomatoes

I douse these greens in water every day, and arrange them in water. (It's a bit like flower arranging)

Compromise is the word that springs to mind today.  I made a Quinoa Log with broccoli and tomatoes.  I used 3 eggs, which I like to cook thoroughly, to bind it; the compromise being that I don't like to overcook the broccoli; the answer being to cut the broccoli in large chunks, so that the eggs cook before the vitamins in the broccoli are completely frazzled. 

These big chunks of broccoli should'nt lose too many vitamins. (Sorry it's out of focus)








It looks yucky now

Here's what I did.

Bring to the boil:

½ a cup of dry Quinoa
1½ cups of water
½ an onion diced
2-3 small mushrooms diced

Then turn it down to the lowest heat.  Quinoa takes about 15 minutes to cook and the onions and mushrooms will be just about right by that time too.


 When it's cooked, mix in:

75grams of broccoli (large chunks)
1 tomatoe diced
3 eggs
1 heaped tablespoon of soya flour
1 heaped tablespoon of porridge oats
½ teaspoon of bouillon mix
½ teaspoon of black pepper
Quinoa Log With Toasted Sunflower Seeds
½ teaspoon of turmeric

Let it stand for half an hour to let the soya flour and porridge oats soak up the egg and bind the whole thing.
Grease the bottom of a plate or casserole dish and throw a bed raw porridge oats onto that.  Then heap the ingredients on top of that; it should be quite stiff now because the egg will have bound the whole lot together.  Sprinkle some raw porridge over the top and sides (it's a bit like pebble dashing the walls of your house). 

Lay it aside, or refrigerate until about 20 minutes - half an hour before you're ready to eat, because that's how long it takes to microwave it.  If you want to toast the oats for better presentation, you'll need another 10 minutes.  I've sprinkled soaked sunflower seeds onto the one above, and lightly toasted them under the grill.  It's not a good idea to over cook seeds; it damages the omega oil.

Quinoa - Health Benefits and Cooking Tips - (more recipes and ideas)
The Best Possible Way To Store Fresh Green Vegetables

2 comments:

  1. Interesting recipe. I might try that! Though I might use egg replacer instead of the eggs - but maybe that wouldn't be the same result. Or would it? Are the eggs just for binding or also flavor and texture?

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  2. Hi alisonamazed - Yes the eggs are mainly the binding agent, so it slices like meat loaf. You'll probably know that quinoa has a lot of protein, and if it's not overcooked, it has a meaty texture. Egg will add flavour, of course, and give it texture too. I'm not familiar with egg replacer, so I'm not sure how that would work. Is it used as a binding agent?

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