Quinoa with Dried Cherries & Pistachios Recipe

Since I am a stay at home mom I try and do a lot of the cooking. The problem is I am not that great at it and I am still learning. That often means pasta dishes and lots of crock pot meals. Husband is the real cook in our family. I have seen all the hype about all the fancy organic, healthy, crunchy, granola meals out there and I am not immune...I want to try those things too. I have tried quinoa at different places and I thought it tasted awful. So Hubs and I decided to give it one last try with a recipe we saw in cooking light and we have adjusted it to the way we like it.

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups uncooked quinoa
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 4 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
• 2 cups water
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 3/4 cup dried sweet cherries, chopped
• 1/2 cup dry-roasted pistachios, chopped
• 1/8 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

1. Rinse and drain quinoa. Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add shallots to pan; sauté 2 minutes or until tender. Add 2 cups water, wine, and salt to pan; bring to a boil. Add quinoa; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender. Remove from heat; set aside, and cool slightly.
2. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, and pepper in a large bowl; stir with a whisk. Add quinoa, cherries, and remaining ingredients; toss gently to combine.

We serve ours with chicken and it is now one of my favorite dishes! Quinoa does not have to be a scary dish only served by the crunchiest of moms out there! Enjoy!