Quinoac N Cheese

Since I moved to Wisconsin over a year ago, I have a new found love (obsession if we’re being honest) of cheese! In Wisconsin grocery stores the cheese sections are huge, I love it! I was craving some Macaroni and Cheese, and if you follow this blog, you already know that I love doing twists on Mac N Cheese (Cauliflower Mac N Cheese, Bean Mac N Cheese bean one has been my favorite), so I thought I’d do one with Quinoa, hence the name Quinoac N Cheese! This dish was absolutely perfect…cheese and vegetables and the super healthy super food quinoa for this savory vegetarian dish!

Yield: 6

Quinoac N Cheese

Name: Quinoac N Cheese
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 Tbs Olive Oil; 1/2 onion, dinced; 1 medium tomato, diced; 10 small sweet peppers, or 3 bell peppers-red, orange and yellow, diced; 1.5 cups Quinoa, rinsed and drained; 2 garlic cloves; 2 eggs; 1 tbs salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1/2-1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional if you want a little kick); 1/2 cup ricotta cheese; 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (plus 1 tbs for sprinkling on top); 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (plus 1 tbs for sprinkling on top); 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated; 2-4 oz goat cheese; 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs; 1 tsp mustard powder; 3 cups water

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

2 Tbs Olive Oil
1/2 onion, dinced
1 medium tomato, diced
10 small sweet peppers, or 3 bell peppers-red, orange and yellow, diced
1.5 cups Quinoa, rinsed and drained
2 garlic cloves
2 eggs
1 tbs salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2-1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional if you want a little kick)
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese (plus 1 tbs for sprinkling on top)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese (plus 1 tbs for sprinkling on top)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
2-4 oz goat cheese
1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
1 tsp mustard powder
3 cups water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350. In a pan heat oil and saute onion, tomato, garlic and sweet peppers. Cook for 10 minutes, then stir in quinoa and cook uncovered for 2 minutes.

Add 3 Cups of water and salt and pepper and reduce heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes

Beat eggs and ricotta in a bowl, add mustard powder and cheeses. Gently fold in quinoa and vegetables. Spray baking dish with cooking spray, and pour entire mixture in, mixture with red pepper flakes if using, and then sprinkle with Panko bread crumbs. Add a little bit of mozzarella and cheddar that you have left on top and bake for 25-30 minutes.

Remove from oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving