Recipe | Roasted Vegetable Quinoa

I only recently discovered Quinoa. Quinoa is a seed and is actually closely related to leafy greens like spinach and chard. It is tasty and so good for you. So I thought that I would share a quick and easy recipe which you can use as either a side dish or make in advance for lunches throughout the week. 

Firstly here are five reasons why you should incorporate Quinoa into your diet:

1 | A great source of protein - Quinoa contains 9 essential amino acids and can provide 17% of your daily requirement. So it's a good choice if you are trying to increase your protein intake. 

2 | Rich in vitamins - Quinoa is high in iron and loaded with magnesium, calcium, fiber, manganese, folate, vitamin B6 and phosphorous. 

3 | Versatility - You can use Quinoa in so many different ways. As a side dish, mixed into a salad, it will go with pretty much everything!

4 | Quick and easy - Quinoa takes less time than rice to cook. Just add 2 parts water to 1 part Quinoa and simmer for 15 minutes. 

5 | Gluten free - This makes it a great option to use for those following a gluten free diet. 

Ingredients
Quinoa
Olive Oil
Peppers
Courgettes
Tomatoes
An onion and whatever vegetables you have to hand.

Method 
I haven't stated quantities of ingredients because you can make however much or little you like. I made enough for lunch for two people plus a bit leftover for the next day. Use 2 parts water to 1 part Quinoa, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes. In the meantime pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees C and prepare vegetables. Drizzle a little olive oil over the vegetables and place on a baking tray. Cook for about 20 minutes or until ready. Mix the Quinoa and vegetables together in a bowl and serve!

I basically made it up as I went along with this recipe. You could add feta cheese for a little bit more flavour. It makes a healthy and tasty lunch!

Let me know if you give this recipe a go!