Spicy Stir-Fried Quinoa

This is one of my go-to dinners, especially when I'm in a rush. It's also great when I'm running low on groceries because it's such a flexible recipe.  If you prefer rice over quinoa, replace the quinoa with brown rice. If you are vegan, use soft tofu instead of eggs. You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand, and you can increase the amount of veggies if you like those too. I've made this when I only had spinach and carrots, and it was just as good as when I had four or five different veggies. It's like a Choose Your Own Adventure.

Kale, as you might have guessed, is one of my favorite foods. I love it because it is versatile, satisfying as well as delicious. Kale is more than that, though: the nutritional profile for kale is incredible. In 1 cup of raw kale, you get 206% of your daily Vitamin A, 134% of your Vitamin C, and 684% of your Vitamin K. All of this for only 33 calories! 

Alt J- Hunger of the Pine

INGREDIENTS  

2 tbsp fresh grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup vegetables- grated carrots/ diced bell pepper/ broccoli chopped fine, your choice (or all three!))
3 cups thinly sliced greens- kale or spinach
2 cups cooked quinoa
¼ tsp fish sauce (optional)
2 eggs or ½ package soft tofu
2 tsp soy sauce
Half a lime
salt and pepper, to taste

*Note: Soy sauce does contain gluten, so if you're gluten free, sub for GF soy sauce or tamari

INSTRUCTIONS

Add ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes and olive oil to the centre of a large saucepan and heat on medium until fragrant and lightly golden. Add the vegetables and greens to the pan with 2 tbsp of water, and cook until the greens are soft and the water is absorbed. Add quinoa and mix everything together. With the heat still on, push the quinoa/veggies to the sides of the pan, creating a well in the centre. If using fish sauce, add fish sauce to the well. If using eggs, crack eggs into the well and begin to scramble within the well. If using tofu, add the tofu and scramble the tofu in the well. Once the eggs are cooked through or the tofu is fully scrambled, incorporate into the rest of the quinoa/veggie mixture. Pour soy sauce over top and add salt and pepper to taste. Squeeze lime over rice just before serving.

Disclaimer: Information can be empowering, but we all have unique health profiles and needs. Health-related information contained in this post is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a Naturopathic Doctor. The advice is intended to offer only a general basis for individuals to discuss their medical condition with their health care provider.  Always consult your licensed Naturopathic Physician.