“ Quinoa is an absolute staple in our house, even though it’s a little more expensive than rice or pasta. It’s a high-protein, gluten-free grain that works with our vegetarian diet. We’re always looking for creative ways to use quinoa, and this casserole is one of our new favorites. (It’s also a good way to use up some leftover quinoa from the night before.) Made with 1 tablespoon chipotles, the dish will be medium-spicy, but Nick likes it extra-spicy, which is why we use 2 tablespoons.”
~ Rebecca
Cook quinoa according to package directions, or see How to Cook Quinoa.
Moderate
Moderate
Serves:4-6people
Serving Size:1 rectangle (1/6th of casserole)
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Serve this hearty quinoa casserole for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Adjust the chipotle peppers to taste, or use mild green chilies instead. (See Variations.)
Tools:8x8-inch baking dish, knife and cutting board, measuring cups and spoons, colander, grater, large bowl
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- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans
- 6 large eggs
- 1 small onion
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro or parsley
- 1 tablespoon minced chipotle pepper in adobo or more, to taste
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese (2 to 3 cups grated), divided in half
- 1 avocado
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray oil into baking dish.
- Use leftover quinoa, or cook some now according to package instructions (or follow our recipe for Basic Quinoa).
- Drain and rinse beans in a colander.
- Break eggs into a large bowl and beat lightly with a whisk (or fork).
- Finely chop* onion and cilantro, then mince* chipotle pepper, adding each to the eggs as you finish.
- Stir in quinoa, beans, tomatoes (with their juices), cumin, and salt.
- Grate cheese and stir in half. Pour mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
- Bake (uncovered) 45 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand at least 10 minutes.
- Cut into four or six pieces. Garnish with avocado slices if desired.
*Terminology: What’s the difference between mincing and finely chopping something? It’s all about the size.
a) Mince – to cut into very tiny pieces, about 1/16 inch or smaller.
b) Chop – to cut into small pieces, usually 1/2 inch or less, but not necessarily uniform. Other variations: Coarsely Chop - slightly bigger pieces; Finely Chop - smaller pieces.
VARIATIONS:
- Make with brown rice to save money.
- For a milder version, substitute 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilies for chipotle pepper.
- Eliminate chipotle pepper and use pepper jack in place of plain Monterey Jack.
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