If you are looking for some great alternatives for rice then quinoa is the best one. It’s nutritious, easy to make, and just like rice, it can be paired with a lot of different dishes. I also use quinoa in my soups and salads. Today I am sharing an easy recipe for mushroom quinoa with spinach. If you are planning a light and easy lunch or dinner, this is a great recipe. It can be served as a side dish too. The dish is vegan and gluten-free.
What’s needed to make mushroom quinoa?
This simple quinoa recipe needs the ingredients that are shown below:
Ingredient notes and substitute suggestions
Mushrooms: You can use just about any type of fresh mushrooms in this dish. Use what’s available to you or what you like the most. I have used white button mushrooms but shiitake mushrooms, cremini mushrooms, or any other type of mushrooms is fine. You can also mix different kinds of mushrooms. Quinoa: White, black, rainbow quinoa, or red quinoa all are fine. I have used white quinoa. Onion: I prefer using red onion but white or yellow onion can be used too. Garlic: Fresh garlic gives a stronger flavor but garlic powder can also be used. Greens: I have used spring onion and baby spinach. Regular spinach can also be used but cook it for a slightly longer time than baby spinach. Use fresh spinach, not the frozen one. You can also add Swiss chard or fresh herbs of choice like fresh cilantro, or parsley. Lemon juice: If you don’t have fresh lemon, add balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar once the mushrooms are sauteed. Seasonings: Feel free to use seasonings of your choice. I like keeping this dish simple so have used only red pepper flakes, dried thyme, black pepper, and salt. You can also use dried oregano, parsley, onion powder, etc. Olive oil: If you don’t have olive oil, use any oil of choice like canola oil, vegetable oil, or coconut oil. Non vegans may use butter too.
Other ingredient details and nutritional information are shared in the recipe card.
How to make (step-by-step instructions)?
To make mushroom spinach quinoa, follow the easy step-by-step instructions shared below: Step 1: Put rinsed quinoa in a saucepan. Add water and cook uncovered for 12-15 minutes or until all the water dries up. Step 2: Turn off the heat and cover the pot with a lid. Leave covered for 5 minutes. Step 3: After 5 minutes, remove the lid and fluff quinoa with a fork. Keep it aside. Step 4: Heat oil in a pan and add chopped onion. Cook until the onion turns translucent. Step 5: Add sliced mushrooms and minced garlic. Cook on medium heat until all the moisture released by the mushrooms dries up. Step 6: Add thyme, red pepper flakes, ground black pepper, and salt. Mix with sauteed mushrooms and cook for a few seconds. Step 7: Add cooked quinoa, baby spinach, and green onion. Mix and cook until the spinach leaves get wilted. Turn off the heat. Step 8: Add some fresh lemon juice and mix. Your easy garlic mushroom quinoa is ready to be served.
Serving mushroom spinach quinoa
Serve this quinoa dish warm or hot. You can serve it as a main dish as well as a side dish. Any dish that you serve with rice can be paired up with mushroom quinoa too like stir fries, grilled or sauteed vegetables, curries, etc. You can also use it in your quinoa bowl. Or, to keep it simple just serve a crunchy salad or toasted bread with it.
Storing, freezing, and reheating
Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. It will be fine for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it in a freezer-safe container for 3 months. Reheat the dish in the microwave or covered on the stovetop. Add a splash of water while reheating. If the dish is frozen, thaw it before reheating.
Recipe tips, tricks, and variation suggestions
You can also cook quinoa in vegetable stock or mushroom stock for more flavor. Season the mushrooms generously otherwise after adding quinoa the dish will taste bland. You may add more vegetables to this quinoa dish like bell peppers, green beans, green peas, carrots, beans, cauliflower, or broccoli. Ingredients like cooked chickpeas, black beans, sauteed tofu, or sweet corn kernels can also be added to mushroom quinoa if you want to make a more hearty side dish. Cheese lovers may sprinkle some parmesan cheese on the final dish. Vegans may add nutritional yeast.
Frequently asked questions
More easy mushroom recipes
Mushroom lovers, don’t miss to check out the following tasty recipes made with mushrooms:
More vegan quinoa recipes
If you enjoyed this mushroom garlic quinoa recipe and looking for more healthy side dish recipes made with quinoa then the following links are worth checking out:
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