Cozy Side Dish -- Tircolor Quinoa with Cranberries, Apricots ash -- Tricolor Quinoa with Apricots, Cranberries and Toasted Almondsnd Tosted Almonds

Happy New Year! We got back from our New Orleans trip, where we successfully experienced delicious food, all kinds of awesome drinks and great hospitality. This trip also helped us both putting on two pounds, so yay for me and nay for D.

Back in New England, we just had a very very cold week, and our salads just stopped being appealing when it was 10 degrees out. After a bit of experimenting, we have settled on this fragrant, slightly sweet, and very healthy side -- tricolor quinoa with apricots, cranberries, and toasted almonds.

Tricolor Quinoa with Apricots, Cranberries, and Toasted Almonds

2-3 servings

• 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed thoroughly (we used tricolor but any variety works)
• 2 Tbsp each dried apricots & cranberries
• 2 Tbsp silvered almonds
• 1 Tbsp chopped scallion
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 Tbsp butter (or olive oil)
• 1 cup chicken stock (water is fine as well)
• salt & pepper to taste
• fennel fronds for garnish (optional)

1. melt the butter in a skillet. Toast the almonds and fennel seed until fragrant, about 20 seconds.
2. Add the quinoa and toast for another 10 seconds or so. 
3. Add the chicken stock, followed by all other ingredients except for fennel fronds. Season with salt and pepper. Bring it to a boil.
4. Turn down the heat to a simmer, and let it cook for about 25 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is fully cooked. 
5. Fluff up the quinoa before serving and sprinkle some fennel fronds for garnishing before serving.

Nutrition

The whole dish offers about 690 calories, including 21 grams of protein. The composition is 55% carbs, 33% fat and 12% protein, which is a pretty nice side dish profile to accompany  your protein based main dish. For a detailed analysis, please click here.

Cost

We got most of the ingredients from Trader Joe's and Costco, and the cost of the whole dish ends up being about $2.5.

Verdict

You won't regret trying this I promise!