Quinoa Pilaf with Sweet Sausage, Dried Cherries, and Feta "Cheese"

This is a fantastically quick pilaf to throw together for when you're in a rush, or if you're so hungry you can't wait to for food that takes longer than 15 minutes to prepare.  Since recently discovering Sunergia Soy Feta Cheese (which is remarkably spot-on in flavor and texture, considering it's both dairy and gluten-free), I have been adding it to all kinds of things for an extra kick of flavor.  In this pilaf, it complements the tart cherries and sweet sausage perfectly, making for a quick and delicious meal.  I personally don't usually keep cooked quinoa on hand, but even if you don't either, the white kind only takes about 15 minutes to cook.  Once it's done, though, it's really just a matter of stirring the other ingredients in.  You'll be sitting down to eat before you know it. 


Quinoa Pilaf with Sweet Sausage, Dried Cherries, and Feta "Cheese"
Makes 2 small-ish servings

1 cup cooked quinoa (make as directed using chicken or vegetable broth)
2 Sweet Apple Maple Chicken Sausages (from Trader Joe's), sliced and sauteed until browned
1/3 cup dried cherries (can substitute cranberries)
2 - 3 tbsp. Sunergia Soy Feta Cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Toss all ingredients together, breaking up the soy feta cheese well to distribute evenly throughout the pilaf.  Season with salt and pepper to your own liking.  This pilaf can be eaten either hot or cold.

Spinach Sausage Quinoa Pilaf

This week, I was in the mood for something simple.  Something hearty yet light; something that would fill me up but not be too heavy on the calories.  I love quinoa because it is exactly that: full of healthy protein that will make you feel full, but will not weigh you down.

This recipe is so simple to throw together that you'll be sitting down to a delicious meal before you know it.  The cumin in this recipe gives the flavor a delicious depth of flavor, which is rounded out by the peppers and fried sausage.  The meat in this is completely optional, of course, and could be omitted entirely or replaced with chickpeas or some other kind of bean.  It makes for quick meal that doesn't taste like one!

Spinach Sausage Quinoa Pilaf

3 gluten-free sausage links, chopped into thin slices
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 small onion, chopped very finely
2 - 4 small chilies, with the stems cut off and pierced several times with a sharp knife
4 - 6 peppadews,cut into thin slices (optional)
3 - 4 tsp. minced garlic
2 - 4 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. oregano
1 tsp. basil
1/2 cup dry quinoa
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth OR  2 tsp. chicken or vegetable instant stock and 1 cup of water
3/4 cup frozen spinach
Salt and pepper to taste

In a non-stick frying pan, saute the sausage until it has been browned nicely on both sides.  Set aside.

Heat the oil in a pan and add the onion, garlic, and chilies.  Saute until the onion becomes translucent (about 5 minutes).  Add the spices and mix well, and then add the quinoa and stir to mix well.  Add the broth and bring to a boil, and then add the frozen spinach and return to a boil.  Add the fried sausage and stir to mix.  Reduce to a simmer and cover.  Cook for 15 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked through and the liquid has been absorbed.  Add salt and pepper to your own taste.

This is delicious served hot, but tastes even better chilled as a salad.