Curried Red Bean Quinoa

Quinoa recipes are great for everyone, but vegetarians and vegans especially enjoy the variety that they can add to their diets. If you are looking for a new vegetarian dish to try, give curried red beans and quinoa a try! This dish makes four healthy servings and is one that your entire family is sure to love.

Quinoa Nutrition Facts

If you are new to quinoa, you will be happy to know that it is loaded with both protein and fiber. Another added benefit is that it is high in magnesium, which may lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels. Copper and manganese are two mineral antioxidants found in quinoa that may help you to fight diseases such as cancer. A one cup serving of cooked quinoa has 220 calories and provides 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.

Another good source of fiber is kidney beans which aid in preventing constipation and it tones the colon. It can also inhibit the development of heart diseases and controls the level of cholesterol. Kidney beans which is needed by pregnant women for it is vital for the growth and development of the baby. These beans contains high amount of fiber which are important for delivering oxygen-rich blood to various organs of the body as well as for the enlargement of strong muscles.

To get started with this dish, you will want to have two cups of cooked quinoa, 28 ounces of red kidney beans, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, a diced onion, two cloves of garlic, fresh chopped spinach, and ½ cup diced carrots. For seasoning you will want to add in a teaspoon of curry powder, ¼ teaspoon of cumin, ½ tsp salt and ¼ teaspoon of minced jalapeno peppers. You will want to add pepper according to your own taste.

Use a medium sized pot to sauté the carrots and onions in the oil for about 10 minutes or until the onions are tender. Add in garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about two minutes. Next you will add in the curry powder, kidney beans, jalapeno cumin and salt. Stir until completely warm and ready to serve.

Place equal amounts of warm quinoa on four plates and top with the curried kidney bean mixture. One thing to keep in mind is that if you do not wish to use red beans, you can always try this dish with black beans. Black bean recipes offer all the same health benefits as red beans so feel free to experiment as you like!