Creamy Quinoa Risotto with Asparagus and Peas
This vegetarian main course celebrates fresh spring produce and flavorful herbs to create a dish that’s hearty enough to stand on its own or that pairs well with salmon or grilled chicken breasts.
Servings: 2
Cost: $12
Equipment
- Dutch oven
- Blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 3 shallots diced
- 2 teaspoons thyme leaves fresh or dried
- 1 cup quinoa rinsed
- ½ cup Everclear Grain Alcohol
- 1 ¾ cups vegetable broth
- 1 can white beans drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Pinch salt
- ⅓ cup frozen peas
- ⅓ cup chopped asparagus
- Parsley, extra peas, roasted asparagus, olive oil, lemon juice or Romano cheese for garnish
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven, combine 1 tablespoon olive oil with chopped shallots. Soften over medium-low heat for 2-3 minutes. When soft, add 2 teaspoons thyme and sauté for another minute.
- Turn down the heat and add the rinsed quinoa and ½ cup Everclear Grain Alcohol. Let simmer 1 minute before adding the vegetable broth. Cover and continue simmering on low for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add white beans, lemon juice, remaining olive oil and a pinch of salt to the base of a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth, adding vegetable broth as needed to reach the right consistency.
- Add the peas and asparagus to the cooked quinoa and continue cooking 3-5 more minutes, or until quinoa has absorbed most, but not all, of the liquid.
- Combine the cooked quinoa with the white bean puree and stir well. If needed, add more vegetable broth or white beans until you get a creamy consistency. Feel free to make this as creamy as you like!
- Garnish with parsley, extra peas, roasted asparagus, a drizzle of olive oil or a sprinkle of freshly shaved Romano cheese.
Notes
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
The quinoa will absorb most of the excess liquid as it sits. If you plan on having leftovers, I recommend setting aside some of the white bean sauce for later. Just prior to reheating, top it off with more sauce and broth and give it a good stir.