RECIPE

Herbed Quinoa

Ingredients:

Serves 6

1 ½ c quinoa (½ lb)
2 ½ Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
½ c thinly sliced scallion greens
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
Rinse quinoa in five changes of water in a bowl, rubbing grains and letting them settle before pouring off water (if quinoa does not settle, drain in a large fine sieve after each rinse).
Cook quinoa in a large saucepan of boiling salted water 10 minutes. Drain in sieve and rinse under cold water.
Set sieve with quinoa over saucepan filled with 1 ½ inches boiling water (sieve should not touch water) and steam quinoa, covered with a kitchen towel and lid until fluffy and dry, 10-12 minutes. (Check water level in pan occasionally, adding water if necessary.) (SH: caution: from personal experience, do not use a sieve that has a plastic handle!)
Toss quinoa with oil and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Cool then toss with scallion and thyme. (SH: I prefer chives to scallion greens.)
Cook’s note:
Quinoa (without scallion greens and thyme) can be made one day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring to room temperature and toss with scallion greens and thyme.