Quinoa and Veggie Stew

I got excited when I saw this recipe and it said crock pot. Well it is not really a crock pot recipe per say... I suppose while it cooks for about an hour and a half that could happen in a crock pot but this is not a dump in the crock pot and forget about it kind of meal so it was easier for me to do it on the stove top. I was in the mood for a dish filled with lots of delicious veggies so it fit perfectly and would also be great with some grilled chicken. Just a fair warning that there is A LOT of chopping so if you have a chopping tool or something, use it!

Quinoa and Veggie Stew
from foodfulife, serves 4

Ingredients:

- large onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 medium carrots
- 2 stalks of celery
- 2 large potatoes
- 3 zucchini
- red bell pepper
- pint of cherry tomatoes
- can of cannellini beans or northern beans
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 3/4 cups of water
- olive oil
- salt and pepper

Peel and chop all vegetables. You don't need to peel the ones you wouldn't normally like the zucchini, tomatoes, etc. Yes this is so much chopping. Cook onion in olive oil and add garlic after a few minutes. Go ahead and do this in a really big pot that you will be using for the stew. When onions are golden add the rest of the vegetables, the bay leaves and the water. Stir.

Cook over low heat for 1 hour and 20 minutes but add the beans halfway through. Wash the quinoa using a strainer. After the 1 hr 20 min, add the quinoa, stir and cook another 10-15 minutes.

Season with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.


I would make this again but make sure that I cooked the quinoa long enough. It was a tad undercooked... I think we were too eager to eat. Hope you enjoy!