Warm Quinoa Roasted Green Beans (Printable Version)
Nutty quinoa with caramelized green beans, feta, toasted nuts and lemon-honey Dijon vinaigrette; serve warm as a light main or hearty side.
# Ingredient List:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water or vegetable broth
→ Vegetables
03 - 10 oz green beans, trimmed
04 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
→ Toppings
06 - 3.5 oz feta cheese, crumbled
07 - 1/4 cup toasted almonds or walnuts, chopped
08 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
→ Dressing
09 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
10 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
11 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Arrange green beans and red onion slices on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat evenly. Roast for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender and lightly caramelized.
03 - While the vegetables roast, combine quinoa and water or broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until the liquid is fully absorbed. Remove from heat, fluff with a fork, and let rest covered for 5 minutes.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
05 - In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, roasted green beans and onions, and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with half the dressing and toss gently to coat evenly.
06 - Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls. Top with crumbled feta, toasted nuts, and chopped parsley. Drizzle with the remaining dressing and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The contrast of warm grains with bright, punchy lemon dressing will make you rethink everything about salad.
- It comes together in under forty minutes and reheats beautifully for lunch the next day.
02 -
- Do not skip rinsing the quinoa or you will taste a soapy bitterness that no amount of dressing can fix.
- Letting the quinoa rest covered after cooking makes it fluffier and prevents a gummy texture at the bottom of the pan.
03 -
- Toasting the nuts in a dry pan for two minutes before adding them changes everything, so never skip this small step.
- Taste the dressing on its own before adding it to the salad, because a balanced dressing means a balanced dish.