One-Pot Wonders

Quinoa "Risotto" with Walnuts, Sage and Porcini

by:
January  5, 2012
5
1 Ratings
Quinoa "Risotto" with Walnuts, Sage and Porcini
  • Makes about 3 cups
Author Notes

One of the first things I thought of making when sage and walnuts were presented for this challenge was a rice risotto with hints of sage and the crunchiness of a few walnuts. For some reason that large bag of quinoa in the pantry kept calling. I've been trying to put more of this in our diet and this was the perfect opportunity to try it. The nuttiness of the quinoa and walnuts and the earthiness of the sage and porcini make for a great chew. —inpatskitchen

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large shallot, minced
  • 1/4 ounce dried porcini, soaked in 3 cups of boiling water for about 30 minutes and then chopped (save the liquid!)
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • 1/4 cup dry white wine
  • The 3 cups of porcini soaking liquid
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/3 cup toasted ground walnuts (toast in oven at 350F for about 8 minutes)
  • 5 to 6 minced fresh sage leaves
  • 2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper to re season if desired
Directions
  1. In a medium sauce pan saute the shallot in 3 tablespoons of the butter until soft. Stir in the quinoa and chopped porcini thoroughly.
  2. Add the wine and over medium heat stir almost constantly until the wine is absorbed. Stir in the salt and pepper.
  3. Start adding the porcini liquid a little at a time (maybe a third to half cup) while stirring over the heat. Add more liquid as the quinoa absorbs each addition. It should take 20 to 30 minutes for all of the liquid to absorb.
  4. Stir in the sage leaves and walnuts, remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan and last tablespoon of butter. Re season with salt and pepper if desired.
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See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • inpatskitchen
    inpatskitchen
  • LeBec Fin
    LeBec Fin
inpatskitchen

Recipe by: inpatskitchen

I think I get my love for food and cooking from my mom, who was an amazing cook. She would start baking and freezing a month before Christmas in order to host our huge open house on Christmas afternoon. I watched and I learned...to this day I try not to procrastinate when it comes to entertaining. My cooking style is pretty much all over the place, although I'm definitely partial to Greek and Italian cuisine. Oh yes, throw a little Cajun in there too!

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2 Reviews

inpatskitchen
inpatskitchen January 6, 2012
Thank you so much...and thanks for your input...too late to edit since the contest is closed and I entered it, but I can certainly add it later since I do strain the soaking liquid.
 
LeBec F.
LeBec F. January 6, 2012
this looks like a great idea. my one suggestion- if they let you edit your recipe-is that you put in a step for scrubbing the porcini with a toothbrush to loosen dirt, and straining the porcini soaking water through a coffee filter or cheesecloth, because all the dried porcini i've ever worked with were wicked gritty!