Name: Moroccan Quinoa Pilaf at Home
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Moroccan
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 cup diced red onion; 2 to 3 cloves fresh garlic (minced); kosher salt; 1/2 cup raisins; 1 tablespoon Ras el Hanout (Moroccan Spice Blend); 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth; 3/4 cup water; 1 cup quinoa (rinsed and drained); 2 cups thinly sliced purple cabbage; 1 cup grated carrots (about 3); 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas (drained and rinsed); 3 sprigs fresh mint (torn by hand); 1/3 cup coarsely chopped pistachios

Moroccan Quinoa Pilaf at Home

I’m back on the healthy train with this Moroccan quinoa pilaf. Not that I genuinely ever got off it, but after a weekend of burgers, potato salad, potato chips and a few *ahem* grapefruit shandies- my body was craving

Serves 6 servings

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 30 minutes

Total 45 minutes

Jump to the recipe

I’m back on the healthy train with this Moroccan quinoa pilaf.

Not that I truly ever got off it, but after a weekend of burgers, potato salad, potato chips and a few *ahem* grapefruit shandies- my body was craving vegetables and STAT.

Enter this quinoa pilaf. I knew that on Tuesday, post 4th of July, that I was going to feel this way so I prepped my kitchen. The week prior I made theRas el Hanout and had that ready to go, so I only dashed to the grocery store to pick up the fresh stuff, like cabbage and mint. I couldn’t wait to get home and make this salad, I didn’t even mind the check out girl giving me the stank eye because of all the bagged produce she had to key in. #sorrynotsorry

Think of this as a meatless main or even as a side dish to only about anything. Typically I serve this in a bowl with a fork and I’m good to go, but as a side addition to grilled chicken or salmon would be lovely.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saucepan.

Once melted and starting to bubble, add 1 cup diced red onion, 2 cloves minced garlic and a small pinch of kosher salt.

Stir and saute for 4 to 5 minutes or until soft, tender and fragrant.

Increase the heat to high and add in 1/2 cup raisins…

Stir…

Then add in 1 tablespoon Ras el Hanout (Moroccan Spice Blend).

Pour in 3/4 cup of cool water…

…and 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth.

Add in the cup of rinsed quinoa and bring to a boil. Once at a rolling boil, cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to low and simmer for 12 minutes. Remove off of the heat and let stand (covered) for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

In the meantime, drain and rinse 1 (15 ounce) can of garbanzo beans (remove any skins if found).

Slice up 2 cups of purple cabbage, grate a few carrots (for me it took 3 smallish to medium) until you have 1 cup and rinse and pat dry a few sprigs of fresh mint.

Once the quinoa is done add it, along with any remaining liquids in the pan, into a large mixing bowl.

Add in the cabbage, carrots and garbanzo beans.

Hand tear in the leaves from 3 to 4 mint sprigs…

…taste and season with more kosher salt if desired.

Serve while it’s still warm with a sprinkling of chopped pistachios and a few extra mint leaves.

Texturally, Worth keeping the crunch of both the purple cabbage and the chopped pistachios. The soft, juiciness (and sweetness) from the plump raisins are satisfying and the quinoa holds it all together. The Ras el Hanout is certainly standout, flavoring this dish with a punch to your taste buds and a little back-of-the-throat-kick from the cayenne.

It’s flavor-packed and healthful and pretty on the eyes too!