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Roasted Garlic, Red Pepper & Mushroom Quinoa Bowl

You can wipe that smirk off your face.

Roasted garlic quinoa

And pick your jaw up off the floor.

Quinoa with vegetables

No butter. No bacon. No chocolate.

Quinoa close-up

This can’t be fun.

Quinoa with peppers and mushrooms

Or can it?

Roasted garlic and quinoa

I know the blog is often indulgent — one week filled with lighter recipes, the next with something decadently rich. But at home we really do eat plenty of healthy meals. Sometimes they’re bland (broccoli, anyone?), and other times they’re surprisingly delicious. This roasted garlic, red pepper and mushroom quinoa is one of those winners.

Quinoa dish plated

Roasting garlic is one of my favorite techniques. I often end up with more heads of garlic than I know what to do with — and roasting an entire batch at once turns it sweet, mellow and almost buttery. Fold that roasted garlic into fluffy quinoa along with sautéed mushrooms and red pepper, and you have a simple side dish that tastes far more complex than its ingredients.

Quinoa served

Roasted Garlic, Red Pepper and Mushroom Quinoa

Roasted Garlic, Red Pepper and Mushroom Quinoa

Yield:

2
cups

Ingredients

  • 1 head garlic
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped red pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F (205°C). Trim the top off the head of garlic, remove loose papery layers, drizzle the exposed cloves with olive oil, wrap the head tightly in foil and roast for 20–30 minutes, until the cloves are soft and golden. Allow to cool.
  • Cook quinoa according to the package directions. While the quinoa cooks, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped red pepper and mushrooms and sauté until tender, about 6–8 minutes. When the quinoa is done, fluff it with a fork and stir in the sautéed vegetables.
  • Squeeze the roasted garlic cloves from the head into the quinoa mixture, mashing a few with a fork and leaving some whole for texture. Season with salt and pepper, mix well, and serve warm.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?

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Plated quinoa close-up

But fair warning: tomorrow I might tempt you back into indulgence. For now, enjoy a flavorful, nourishing quinoa side that’s easy to make and full of roasted garlic goodness.