Name: Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 cup organic tri-colour quinoa; 2 cups low sodium vegetable broth; 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil; ½ tsp garlic powder; ½ tsp onion powder; 1 organic tomato (seeds removed and diced); 1/2 organic cucumber (diced); 1/3 cup Kalamata olives; 3 tbsp organic extra virgin olive oil; 1 tbsp organic balsamic vinegar; 1 tsp organic dried oregano; Pinch fine Himalayan salt; Pinch ground pepper; 2 Sliced or shredded cooked chicken breasts; 1 organic sweet bell pepper (diced); Crumbled Goat Feta cheese

Let’s be real, quinoa on its own can be pretty darn bland. As much as I love quinoa now, when I first started cooking with it 4-5 years ago, I had no clue what I was doing and didn’t know much about what seasonings to use. A few recipe trials later, I learned that quinoa was like a super-seed sponge; the more seasonings I added, the tastier it became.

Some of my all-time favourite quinoa seasonings include;

Garlic powder
Onion powder
Dried parsley
Ginger powder
Cumin powder
Yellow curry powder
Cacao powder (check out my chocolate quinoa pudding recipe)
and of course salt/pepper

It really is all about the seasonings when it comes to making any quinoa dish. Whether it’s a bit of garlic, dried herbs or spices, quinoa relies heavily on such added flavours to give it a more complete taste. If you’ve ever tried eating plain quinoa you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Benefits of Quinoa

A quinoa bowl isn’t just packed with flavour, it’s also loaded with nutrients. Did you know half a cup of quinoa contains 4 grams of protein and approximately 15% of you daily magnesium intake?

Here are a few other great health benefits of quinoa;

Is naturally gluten free and non-gmo
Great source of protein and amino acids
Contains vitamins B1, B2, and B6
High in fibre – higher than most conventional grains (2.5 grams per half a cup)
Excellent source of minerals, including; manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, copper, iron, zine, and potassium
Good source of antioxidants
Low on the glycemic index (good for stabilizing blood sugar)

That’s a pretty powerful seed if you ask me! Yes, fun fact; quinoa is actually from the seed family, not grain family, making it naturally gluten free.

With all these great benefits, I can’t help but make quinoa often. I enjoy adding it as part of meals or as a side dish, and even as part of a desserts. It’s great to cook with because it’s simple to prepare, absorbs the flavour of whatever you add to it, and leaves you feeling full and satisfied

Why I love this Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

My Mediterranean quinoa bowl has become a favourite in the Knights residence. Here are a few reasons why we love it:

Loaded with flavour
Filling in a good way
Simple to make
Packed with wholesome ingredients
Great source of protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals
Excellent option for meal prep (tastes great cold!)

Let’s get into this tasty recipe, shall we?!

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