Quinoa Black Bean Burrito Bowl

So I kept on seeing posts on pintrest about quinoa… quinoa this, quinoa that. I had no clue what it even was until recently! First thing I learned was that it's actually pronounced keen-wa… not qwin-no-a (even though that one sounds pretty cool!). And the reason why it's become so popular is because it has numerous health benefits! First of all it's a complete protien… it has all nine essential amino acids. Usually complete proteins only come in the form of meat or dairy, so that's awesome! In fact, it's one of the most protein rich foods we can eat! You can read more about the benefits of quinoa here and here!

My sister-in-law showed me this recipe probably a month and a half ago… and I've made it at least 3 times since then (in huge quantities) so yeah, I really like it!  Whenever I take time to cook anything I try and make sure that every ingredient is going to benefit me. And when I do take that time to cook, I triple the recipe and store it in tupperware so I don't have to cook again for awhile! (aint nobody go time for that!!) Plus how much easier is it to eat healthy when the food is right there? You don't have any excuses not to!

The ingredients in parenthesis are roughly the tripled equivalent (for if you want to cook a bunch and throw it in the fridge and freezer like I do!)

Ingredients

1 cups of quinoa (3 cups)

2 cups of water (6 cups)

1 tbs olive oil (3 tbs)

1 small yellow onion (3 onions)

2 cans of drained and rinsed black beans (6 cans)

1/4 tsp garlic powder (1 tsp) (I like a little bit more!)

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro and 2 tbs chopped cilantro for quinoa (1 cup and 4 tbs)

1/4 tsp chili powder (3/4 tsp)

pinch of cayenne pepper (1/4 tsp cayenne pepper) (Do this to taste, some prefer it a little spicier!)

3 limes (6 limes)

shredded lettuce

1 avocado (3 avocados)

1 cup Greek Yogurt (3 cups)

1. Begin boiling water. Rinse quinoa in a mesh strainer (don't forget this step! I learned the hard way… the quinoa tasted bitter) and then place quinoa in the water. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low for 20 minutes. Stir to ensure that it doesn't burn the bottom.

2. Chop onions and cook with olive oil on medium heat until slightly browned.

3. Drain and rinse black beans. Add black beans to onion along with garlic powder, cilantro, chili powder, cayenne pepper, and juice of 2 limes. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

4. Once all water has been absorbed in the quinoa, remove from heat. Add 2 tbs (4 tbs) of fresh cilantro and juice of 1 lime (2 limes) to quinoa. Stir.

5. Add garlic powder and cayenne pepper to greek yogurt to taste. For each cup I usually do 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper--but I like it fairly spicy! Cut the avocado (never cut one before? Here's a tutorial! How to cut avocado.

6. Assemble your "burrito bowl" by placing the quinoa on the bottom, then shredded lettuce, black bean mixture, sliced avocado, and then greek yogurt.

7. Sit back and enjoy your highly nutritious and guilt free meal!

8???? Pack up those left overs and enjoy your self made "lean cuisines"in days to come!

P.S. I pack up my quinoa/black beans and lettuce/avocado/greek yogurt separately. And yeah, don't try and freeze the lettuce, you'll be thoroughly disappointed. Just pack that up the night before or day of!

I really need to invest in some matching tupperware ;)



Try it? Let me know know how it turned out!