Run Plant Based

Formerly The Raw Project - Running on a Healthy Vegan Diet

Cayenne Lemon Quinoa

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Ah, Friday is almost here! I am looking forward to a more laid back and productive weekend with great weather and no races planned. Miko is ready for long walks and play time.

I don’t know why it took me so long to try toasting hemp seeds because they came out great in this quinoa recipe. They take on a very unique smokey and nutty flavor with the perfect texture to liven up grains.

What irks me about a lot of quinoa recipes I look up is they call for 1/4 cup or more of oil. I’m not super anti-oil, but I’m sure I get plenty when we go out to eat and avoid using it at home and try to reduce it in general. Instead of oil, this savory and kicky quinoa recipe gets it’s flare from crunchy toasted hemp seeds and miso paste.

Cayenne Lemon Quinoa

  • 2 cups quinoa, rinsed
  • 1/2 cup toasted hemp seeds
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne or to taste
  • 2 tsp. lemon zest
  • juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley (or dried is fine too)
  • 1 tbsp. miso paste
  • 3 cups water or veggie broth
  • pepper to taste
  1. Bring quinoa, water, and miso paste to a boil in a medium pot.
  2. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until loose liquid is absorbed.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in hemp seeds, cayenne, lemon zest, lemon juice, cumin, parsley, and pepper.
  4. Serve warm or chilled and enjoy! Makes 4-6 servings.

This recipe is such a celebration of summer for me with tangy lemon and cayenne heat.

The toasted hemp seeds balance the texture of the quinoa nicely.

And it has kicky heat to it with a savory, nutty flavor.

Comments

  2. I’m so with you on the oil! And like you, I’m not 100% against it but I’m sure food I eat out is loaded, just like you said. Your lemon spin sounds divine =)

    • Exactly on oil – can’t avoid it completely, but can easily control it at home and wow the stove is so much easier to clean with out it! :-) Thanks!

  3. Hmm, I’d definitely try this…but I’m not huge on lemon or cayenne in anything =P Well, I do like lemon cake and lemon bars and lemon water…just not in other things. But I trust you and it does look delicious!

    • Haha, you can skip the cayenne. Definitely try toasting hemp seeds, they’d probably be awesome it energy snack balls too.

  4. I hear you- The must frustrating thing is that quinoa (and most grains) seem to have a limitless capacity to soak up oil, so you could easily keep pouring it on without any signs of trouble. I’d much rather add flavor than grease! Naturally, it looks like you’ve got an excellent formula locked down here.