This delightfully bright and flavorful side dish might just steal the show at your next meal. Quinoa gives this recipe a nice punch of plant-based protein, while a myriad of seeds and herbs come together in a symphony of flavor.
Blooming flavor
To get the most intense flavor out of your herbs, nuts, or seeds during cooking, try blooming, or tempering. This culinary technique involves frying aromatic ingredients in a fat before adding them to a dish. The volatile flavor compounds are best extracted and absorbed by a fat, rather than water, which ensures a more potent expression of flavor in your dish.
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Curry Lemon Pistachio Quinoa
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Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa rinsed well under cold water
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup shelled raw pistachios
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp yellow mustard seeds
- 1/4 tsp cumin seed
- 2 or 3 curry leaves
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest
- 3 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems chopped
- 1/2 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Start by cooking quinoa. In medium saucepan, stir together quinoa, salt, and water over medium-high heat. Once mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and cover; let quinoa simmer until all water has been absorbed, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and gently fluff with fork. Set aside.
- To large sauté pan, add pistachios and place over medium heat. Toast until lightly browned and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove to plate and set aside.
- Return sauté pan to heat and add oil. Once oil is warmed, add mustard and cumin seeds and bring to a sizzle while stirring constantly. Once seeds start to pop, add curry leaves and fry for 30 seconds. Add onion and sauté until translucent and just starting to brown around edges, about 4 minutes. Stir in turmeric and let cook another minute before adding cooked quinoa and lemon zest. Cook, stirring constantly, to warm mixture, about 1 minute. Stir in lemon juice, cilantro, and peas. Remove mixture from heat and stir in toasted pistachios before transferring to a serving bowl.
- Enjoy either warm or at room temperature.
