Lentil and Quinoa Pilaf & Farmers Market Goodness

Jul 31, 2013 | Eats, Lifestyle

This quick and easy dish is healthy and high in protein, keeping the tumtum satisfied longer.  A combo of lentils and quinoa make up the protein packed foundation of this meal.  The recipe calls for an onion, garlic and sweet pepper, but go cray(zy) and add that broc, squash, almond bits….whatever you like.

The recipe specifies that red lentils should be used, but I went with the basic brown lentils, most commonly found in the grocery store.  If you are able to get your hands on red lentils, use those..they get mushier, which works well this particular recipe.  I also used white quinoa, but I’m sure red or black would do just fine (these have a slightly longer cook time though).

I also kind of ignored the directions and went with my own instead:  I cooked my quinoa in a rice cooker first (with the chicken broth seasoning); sauteed the onion, garlic and green pepper; dumped the quinoa into the skillet and added garlic powder, dried thyme, chicken broth seasoning and 1.5 cups of water; poured 1/3 cup of lentils in; brought it to a boil and then let it simmer for 15 minutes, covered.  Meh…came out just fine.

Recipe for lentil and quinoa pilaf, found on Recipe.com:  (Get the full version here)

1/3  cup dry red lentils

1/3  cup quinoa

1   tablespoon olive oil

1/3  cup finely chopped shallots or onion

2   cloves garlic, minced

2   tablespoons flaxseeds

1  14  ounce can reduced-sodium chicken broth

1   large red or green sweet pepper, chopped

1   teaspoon snipped fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

Note:  this recipe made enough for two hungry people

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Andd, add sriracha to the finished product if you find yourself craving more flavor!  Or add fresh ginger, jalapenos, cumin and coriander to create more of a spicy Indian dahl, such as this one (found on Allrecipes.com).

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This dish was extra scrumptious because a visit to the farmers market (DePaul’s Urban Farm) supplied me with fresh ingredients, ready to be used for dish-jazzery.  I have included a list of farmers markets in the D.C. area, at the bottom of this post.  Make a trip to one this weekend and stock up on those fresh goodies…perfectly ripe tomatoes, juicy green peppers….  Don’t stop at fresh produce though-  treat yourself to some pretty blooms!

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A few of the many farmers markets in D.C. and VA (some of these are open midweek, others weekend only):

D.C.:

14th and U Farmers Market
14th & U Sts. NW

Adams Morgan Farmers Market
18th St. & Columbia Rd. NW

Capital Harvest on the Plaza Farm Market
Woodrow Wilson Plaza, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Columbia Heights Community Marketplace
14th & Kenyon St. / Park Rd. NW

Dupont FRESHFARM Market
20th St. NW between Massachusetts Ave. and Connecticut Ave.

Eastern Market
7th St. between C St. & North Carolina Ave. SE
Washington, DC

Foggy Bottom FRESHFARM Market
I St. between New Hampshire and 24th St. NW

FRESHFARM Market by the White House
810 Vermont Avenue, NW (Between H St, NW and I St, NW)
Washington, DC

Georgetown Market in Rose Park
26th & O St. NW

H Street NE FRESHFARM Market
625 H St. NE
Washington, DC

Penn Quarter FRESHFARM Market
North end of Eighth St. NW (between D & E Sts.)
Washington, DC

Union Market
1309 5th Street NE

 

VA:

Alexandria City Farmers Market
301 King Street, Market Square

Arlington County Farmers Market
North 14th Street & North Courthouse Rd.

Ballston Farmers Market
N. Stuart and 9th Sts., Arlington, VA

Crystal City FRESHFARM Market
Crystal Drive between 18th and 20th Sts.

Clarendon Farmers Market
Clarendon Metro Park, Arlington, VA

Falls Church Farmers Market
300 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA

Rosslyn Farmers Market
Wilson Boulevard and N. Oak Street, Rosslyn, VA

McLean Farmers Market
1659 Chain Bridge Road, Lewinsville Park

Mount Vernon Farmers Market
2501 Sherwood Hall Lane
Sherwood Regional Library, Mount Vernon, VA

Reston Farmers Market
Lake Anne Village Center
North Shore Drive & Village Road

Vienna Farmers Market
301 Center Street South

Leesburg
Virginia Village Shopping Center, Catoctin Circle

 DePaul’s Urban Farm
2599 Chain Bridge Road
Vienna VA 22181

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