There are a few things that I really love this time of year:
the cool weather
the colorful leaves
fall foods in season
and THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I'm a sucker for the warm colors, the flavorful food, time spent with family and a season of gratitude. And ever since I fell in love with cooking, I have really enjoyed creating dishes for big family gatherings, namely Thanksgiving :)
This easy quinoa recipe is a perfect side dish for Turkey Day or an easy weeknight meal paired with grilled chicken or chicken sausage! It is full of flavor, takes no time to make, and is a crowd pleaser. Here's what you'll need:
quinoa (duh)
sweet potatoes diced into small cubes
dried cranberries
raw pecan pieces
parsley
This pairs wonderfully with my maple mustard vinaigrette, so grab your ingredients and get cooking!
INGREDIENTS
1 cup diced sweet potatoes (I cut them into small cubes)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup raw pecan pieces
salt and pepper to taste
parsley for garnish
for vinaigrette:
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
2 tbsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
2. Coat cubed sweet potatoes in olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden.
3. Add cooked quinoa, chickpeas, cranberries and pecans to a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and set aside.
4. While your sweet potatoes are roasting, combine all vinaigrette ingredients together in a mason jar or dressing bottle. Shake well to combine.
5. Once sweet potatoes are done, remove from oven and let cool. Then add to quinoa mixture.
6. Drizzle the vinaigrette on top and mix well. Option to add more salt / pepper and parsley for serving.
Gram your quinoa!
Love to #doitforthegram? Good news! You can post your food pics from these recipes and tag me (@kateygordonhealth and #kateygordonhealth) - I'll give you a shoutout and you'll be entered into a giveaway! Plus, everyone will be jealous of your incredible food! So go ahead and let the #cameraeatfirst!