Protein Pantry: Southwest Quinoa Bake

My husband and I have be come devout fans of quinoa. This grain is so incredibly good for you but the unique texture add a little pizazz to all sorts of dishes. I also really like how it takes on the flavor you give it. Its a neat mixture, to me, between a rice and pasta. This dish also incorporates are favorite things all in one :) I found this online somewhere and of course altered it ... I can never leave a recipe the way I find it.

Ingredients:

1/2 c Quinoa
3/4 c Chicken Broth
1/2 an Onion
1 Jalapeño
Minced 2 tbsp Garlic
2 Bell peppers (I like to use a little of all 3 colors, its prettier)
2 c cooked Black beans
1/2 lb Ground turkey or diced chicken
1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Cayenne
1 tsp Chili Powder
1/2 c Cheese (your choice)

Step 1:

Dice up your onion, jalapeño and garlic then toss it in a LARGE pan and set to med heat

Step 2:

Dice all your bell peppers, apx 1/2 cup of each color (red, yellow & green) and put them into a small dry pan on medium heat.

Step 3:

Rinse your quinoa and put into a small pot with chicken broth. Set stove to medium heat, cover and let simmer about 10 minutes

Step 4:

Pay attention to bell peppers as they roast in a dry pan. Flip occasionally, so they brown evenly. Once its done (apx 15 mins total time) put into a bowl on the side.

Step 5:

Now that everything is on the stove and in progress add the ground turkey or chicken, black beans and 1/2 of dry spices to the large pan with your onion, jalapeno and garlic.

* you can make it vegetarian style too and its still delicious!!

Step 6:

When the bell peppers are done roasting set them aside in a bowl. In the same pan add your cooked quinoa and 1/2 of dry spices spices. This will toast the quinoa, cook for approximately 5 minutes or until lightly browned.

Step 7:

Layer away in an 8x8 pan!
Meat mixture frist followed by, quinoa, roasted peppers and cheese! You can pick whatever cheese suits you, but I use pepper jack.