Mexican Quinoa with Black Beans

mexiquinoaclose

Here’s another recipe from The Great Vegan Bean Book that comes out June 1. This recipe may look familiar because it started out on this blog. It’s been slightly tweaked, a stove-top cooking method has been added in addition to the original slow cooker one and there’s nutritional information!

This Book is not an all slow cooker book like The Vegan Slow Cooker, but I added in some slow cooker variations whenever there was space. A few got cut in editing, but I’m planning to adding them here on the blog so you’ll be able to slow cook more of the recipes. I know you guys love slow cookers as much as I do!

mexiquinoaclose2

Super Simple Mexican Quinoa with Black Beans

soy-free, gluten-free, oil-free

1 1/2 cup (225 g) bell pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) water
1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes (or a 14.5 ounce can – do not drain)
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 can (15 oz/420 g), rinsed and drained
1 cube vegetable bouillon
1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder, to taste
1/2 teaspoon cumin
3/4 cup (127.5 g) quinoa, rinsed well
salt and pepper to taste, if needed

Stove-top Instructions:
Add all ingredients except for the salt and pepper into a medium sauce pot with a lid. Bring to boil then turn heat to low and cook for 15 minutes or until the quinoa is done.
Season with salt and pepper. Taste and add more chili powder or cumin if needed. (Remember as your spices age the flavor is not as strong.)

Slow Cooker Instructions:
Increase the amount of water to 2 1/2 cups.
The night before: Prepare the veggies and rinse the beans if you are using canned and keep in fridge overnight.

In the morning: Add everything listed in the ingredient list above the quinoa to an oiled slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 to 10 hours. (You will add quinoa later.)
1 to 2 hours before serving: Turn the slow cooker to high and add in the quinoa. Cook until you see the quinoa’s little white tails. That’s the signal that they’re ready to eat. Taste and add salt, more cumin, extra chili powder – what ever you need to do to make this taste the way you like it!

Yield: 4 servings
Per 1 ½ cup serving: 254.3 calories; 2.6 g total fat; .1 g saturated fat; 11.6 g protein; 46.5 g carbohydrate; 9.3 g dietary fiber; 0 mg cholesterol.
Total Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 20 minutes

 

mexiquinoawithtabasco


Be sure to let me know if you have any questions about  The Great Vegan Bean Book or Vegan Slow Cooking for Two or Just You which comes out this September and uses all 1 1/2 to 2 quart slow cookers in all the recipes.

If you pre-order now you will get the lowest price between now and when the book releases!

largeNewBeanBookPhoto

 

Slow Cooker Farro and Veggies Split Pea Soup

DSC_0789

I feel like I should start this post with it was a dark and stormy night due to yesterday’s cold rain that put me into a bit of a  funk. It’s those chilly times of despair that the best soups spring from. As they say, it’s always darkest before there’s a steaming bowl of tasty soup in front of you! If the soup alone is not enough to bring up your spirits, the cheezy garlic croutons on top will do the job.

This is a quick and easy slow cooker soup that’s soy and oil free (without the croutons or by making the croutons oil free as well). I threw in some turnips I had in the fridge, but you can use potatoes, carrots, or even sweet potatoes if that’s what you have. [Read more...]

4 Toasty Slow Cooker Drinks for Halloween


Fall has really settled in where I live and has blown beautiful leaves over my car, the bushes, really just about anywhere.

This week the hurricane brought some chilly temps with it, so make some a nice hot drink to warm you up on this unusually cold Halloween. [Read more...]

13 Easy Slow Cooker Oatmeals – Happy Almost Halloween!

My friend Gail Davis from So Delicious reminded me that today is oatmeal day. I can’t believe it almost past me by!

Since we’re so close to Halloween I selected 13 of my favorites for you to warm up with. So stay toasty and dry, and eat your oatmeal! [Read more...]

Slow Cooker Vanilla Tapioca Pudding

I didn’t grow up with tapioca pudding, but after my first bite I was hooked for life. There’s something mysterious about a pudding that has so much texture. Plus, like all puddings, the flavor variations are endless. [Read more...]

Happy VeganMoFo 2012!

Today is the first day of Vegan MoFo, also known as vegan month of food, and I’m so excited. Make sure to sign up for one or more of the rss feeds on their site to keep up with the best vegan month of the year!

I always think I’ll have a theme for this big, vegan event, but it’s hard for me to just pick one thing. I’m going to try the theme of fall with emphasis on pumpkin where ever possible. But I reserve the right to change my mind – a lot…

The pie pumpkin before cooking but after being thoroughly washed.

Last week the pie pumpkins were peeking out at me begging to join in on some cooking fun. I’ve talked about making pumpkin puree before, but today I’m providing some step-by-step instructions and pictures. Let’s hear it for trying to overachieve for Mofo!

It’s really easy to make, but you’ve heard that before. Plus if you’re like me, you want to see some proof ; ) [Read more...]

It’s Summertime and Using Your Slow Cooker Is Easy…

It always amazes me when people tell me they’ve put away their slow cooker for the summer. It’s the hottest time of the year and perfect weather for slow cooking. Skip some of the heavy stews you make in the winter, but use it for beans, lighter meals, and even desserts – all without heating up your already too hot kitchen! to recipes →

Bean and Whole Grain Salads

I’m actually cooking up some bean and grain salads for my friend’s wedding this weekend.  I’m super excited that she found the one for her and it’s even better because I like him too. I realized that these could make my lunches easy (and in advance) all summer long and wanted to pass the bean fever over to you guys too!

If you know you’re going to have a tough week and aren’t likely to come home and cook dinner, craft a bean and grain salad ahead of time. You could even make a few of these on the weekend and eat them all week long! [Read more...]

It’s Strawberry Season!

First an announcement: my black forest oatmeal is entered into the So Delicious recipe contest. To vote in the contest you have to like them on your Facebook page. (My oatmeal is the one on the bottom right corner.) Please take a minute to vote for it! You can vote once a day and I’d love to see you vote a few times before the end of the week. Now back to the blog post…

Strawberry season seems to sneak up and that’s one surprise I never mind. I love the complexity of berries. When picked perfectly ripe they are juicy and sweet, yet they still retain a tartness to them – even if it’s only a hint at the end. to recipe →

Slow Cooker Red Velvet Tea Tapioca Pudding

Tapioca is not a pretty food, but there’s something wonderful when you bite into those mini spheres. Slightly gooey but matched with its creamy almond milky pudding it becomes the perfect texture. Straight from the fridge it’s my favorite hot afternoon snack in the summer.

In the summer the last thing I want to do is put a pot of anything on the stove. The slow cooker is the perfect answer. It doesn’t heat up your kitchen and even though the cooking time is short you don’t have to stand there waiting for it to cook. Take a walk, pick some herbs from the garden, or just make the dog happy and go on that walk around the block. It will cook without you. to recipe →