Quinoa Loaf

quinoa loaf

I am an ovo-lacto-vegetarian but that does not mean that I don't enjoy a cleansing and balanced vegan meal a few times a week. I recently received a complimentary copy of Ellen Jaffe Jones' Eat Vegan on $4 a Day. As food prices rise, it is the time to get smart and be a budget conscious shopper. Obviously the first step is to avoid processed foods, as well as packaged and canned foods as much as possible. It is also important to eat a variety of legumes, whole grains, vegetables and fruit. So many tips for saving money and your health are provided in this cookbook.

Ms. Jones also asks something in return: "Promise me that the next time you see a news story about how people on tight budgets can only afford processed or fast foods, you will contact the station and let them know how wrong they are. Tell them au contraire! Let me show you a different way."

I am absolutely smitten with the array of healthy and easy to prepare recipes. Weekly menu plans, breakfasts, soups, salads and dressings, lovely entrees, spreads and sides, and guilt-free desserts and snacks. These innovative recipes from around the globe are such a bargain if you follow these tips: plan your grocery list and use your head, don't go shopping when your belly is growling, check unit prices, buy in bulk but make sure you are getting the best price, stock up on staples that won't spoil when you can find them at a good price, be aware of prominently displayed foods as grocery stores tend to put the most expensive items at eye level and at the front of the store, and buy local if possible or better yet grow your own when the season is right.

The first dish I tried from this cookbook was a "Save-Cash Quinoa Loaf". Full of healthy grains, chickpeas and veggies, this hearty loaf is just delicious served with some salsa, hot sauce or ketchup. Ms. Jones tells us that any leftover slices go well in a sandwich or stuffed into pita breads. I found serving a spicy vegetable dish alongside the loaf was especially satisfying.


Quinoa LoafQuinoa Loaf
Recipe by
Adapted from Eat Vegan on $4 a Day: A Game Plan for the Budget Conscious Cook
Published on September 25, 2011

An inexpensive, nourishing and filling baked quinoa loaf, delicious served with salsa or ketchup

Preparation: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Print this recipePrint this recipe

Ingredients:
  • 2/3 cup dried chickpeas (2 cups cooked or 1 19 oz can)
  • 3/4 cups rolled oats
  • 2/3 cups quinoa
  • 10 sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1/2 oz (14 g) dried mushrooms
  • 8 oz (225 g) white or cremini mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 2 jalapeƱos, seeded and finely chopped
  • pinch of cayenne
  • pinch of ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
  • fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions:
  • Rinse the chickpeas and soak overnight in several inches of cold water. Separately, rinse the quinoa and soak overnight in 1 1/3 cups of cold water in a small saucepan. Separately as well, soak the rolled oats in 1 cup of cold water.

  • Drain the chickpeas and cover with several inches of fresh water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 hour or until tender. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, bring the quinoa to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.

  • While the chickpeas are cooking, soak the sun-dried tomatoes and dried mushrooms in hot water for 20 to 30 minutes, then drain and chop. Set aside.

  • Grease an 8-inch loaf pan with olive oil and preheat an oven to 350°F. In a wok or skillet, combine a tablespoon of water with the fresh mushrooms over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes. Add two more tablespoons of water and when it evaporates, remove the mushrooms from the heat and transfer to a large bowl.

  • In a food processor, pulse together the chickpeas and soaked oats. Place in a large mixing bowl and add the mushrooms, quinoa, peas, parsley, thyme, sun-dried tomatoes and dried mushrooms, onion, jalapeƱos, cayenne, ground cumin, salt and pepper. Stir well to combine. Transfer the mixture to the prepared loaf pan and evenly spread it out. Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, or until firm and golden. Let the loaf cool for about 10 to 15 minutes, slice and serve.

Makes 6 to 8 servings


More savory loaf recipes from Lisa's Vegetarian Kitchen:
Spicy Lentil Quinoa Nut Loaf
Mushroom Nut Roast in Puff Pastry
Classic Cornbread

39 comments:

MapMaster said...

These kinds of loafs can almost make me forget sometimes that I'm not a vegetarian.

Katie said...

I'm a long-time devotee of your recipes, moved to comment / delurk because I would LOVE a chance to win that book! Thanks for all the inspiration and practical information you provide. E-mail is kskatiesykes@gmail.com

Cecil Anne said...

Whenever I bring vegan dishes to work potlucks, my co-workers say "Oh, I just can't afford to eat vegetables." I am going to tell them all about the book (which will be even easier if I win it )

Jessica Holleman Brady said...

I have been working my way through your blog for about a year. I started soon after I chose a GF-vegan lifestyle (after being veggie for 11 yrs) and realized how accommodating Indian food is to it. Thank you much for the opportunity to win such a delightful book, Jessica, holeyjess@gmail.com

Ambika said...

Hi, I'm also a vegetarian and love to explore new recipes. Also, I'm on a budget now, would love to win this book!

ambika.viswanathan@gmail.com

janet @ the taste space said...

I love how quinoa is included in a dish that is cheap.. some people think these fancy grains are expensive but they are not!

Unknown said...

What an amazing recipe. I love, love, love quinoa and am always looking for a new way to make it. Thank you so much for posting this and informing us all about the book. It looks great!

Ms. Veggie said...

I would love to win a copy of the book. My e-mail address is cynthiammarshall[at]att[dot]net

basil said...

Great loaf - thanks for saving me some!

Lauren said...

hm i have never thought of making quinoa this way! just discovered your blog, looking forward to more :)
thanks!
junebug15@shaw.ca

Hannah said...

I need to get back on a roll with meal-planning and this book looks wonderful. hcw.wilkes@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I am also a vegetarian and would love to read more from your blog:) This loaf is really healthy and sounds yummy:)

Bev said...

I have been vegetarian for a long time but have been moving to more and more vegan recipes. I will definitely try this loaf and would love to win the book
Bev
bnfarrell@rogers.com

Ben said...

My wife and I are always looking for good and cheap ways to eat healthily. This cookbook looks like just what we need!

jose said...

this book looks amazing :) my email is josalsan89@gmail.com

VeggieDoc said...

Would love to have a copy of this book! chhansen@netins.net

Anonymous said...

I'm Vegeratian working on becoming Vegan and this book could really help me take that extra step that I want to make. Thanks for the chance to win it.

Patels_In_Canada said...

Vegetarian just as you are L-O.
Would love to go vegan and perhaps this book might come in handy !

Anonymous said...

Sadly, I'm Uk based as this sounds like a great book! Good recipe too -I always turn to pulses for cheap and nutritious meals and oats for extra filling - perfect!

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

I have got to get on the quinoa band wagon. seeing so much of it.

Wanted to stop by and thank you for being such an active part of erecipeCards.com Your recipes always sound delicious and filled with such health!

Anonymous said...

I would love to expand my vegan cooking prowess and cut down on the cost of food. I spend the money, but I would really like to spend a little less on food. And I love the sounds of the Quinoa loaf. Yum!

Anonymous said...

I'm open to anything that can help my dad eat more veggies. Long live creativity. christiannicole05@yahoo.com

Genevieve said...

What a great giveaway - I would love to win a copy of that cookbook! The quinoa loaf sounds great too - hearty and healthy!

Jacqueline said...

We are also ovo-lacto, but I love vegan cookbooks because they often have such flavorful recipes! I look forward to trying this recipe.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hey all vegans and vegetarians here, Ever heard of stuffed onion ?? I come across a different yet exotic way of presenting this popular vegetable. Worth a read www.ifood.tv/network/stuffed_onion

Johanna GGG said...

what an impressive loaf for a budget cookbook - though it sounds like there is a lot of wisdom in the book - I love that quote - as well as good recipes

TejasJJain said...

This looks very good.
One of my coworker told me once 'You must be rich, to eat only veggies'.

I am also told many times that it takes a lot of work to plan, prepare vegan healthy food at home.
I agree that I spent about 20 hours per week on shopping, cleaning and cooking. But I also feel that I am feeding my family and making kids taste preference now.

Tracey ~ Clover said...

Quinoa has become my go to grain for most of my dinner menus. Thanks for a new way of preparing it and the great giveaway!

Melody said...

The recipe looks delicious. I think that cookbook would be great for my husband and me.

Cassidy said...

This looks awesome! I have a budding vegetarian cookbook collection and would love to add a vegan book. I am on a month long cleanse and have found eating vegan/macrobiotic is not as hard as it sounds! my blog is www.cassandjay.com or cassidyheller@gmail.com

Meg said...

This looks amazing! I would drizzle Sriracha all over it and it would be delicious. I would even eat it for breakfast. This is definitely going to be one of my culinary adventures in the next week. I would also love to win that book. It would be great to have all those recipes right on hand!

megpanda@gmail.com

Claire said...

I would love to win this book! The grocery budget is something that I don't pay enough attention to, and I should.

supercarrot said...

i would love to have a copy of this book. i, as well as most other americans, am way in debt, so a cheap cookbook is always a good thing.

Anonymous said...

I'm a GF vegan and would love to win this book! Karen morganguiney@aol.com

Julia P. said...

I would love to win this! I am vegan and on a budget! juliafolland at hotmail dot com

ekta said...

I love quinoa! ekta180@gmail.com

glumnmum said...

I was looking for something to do with black eyed peas and found you :) life is good and the "Black-Eyed Pea Sambar" rocks. I expect to be cooking from your blog for a very long time.

best,
kate

glumnmum@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My long-time boyfriend's mom is convinced that the only reason we can be vegetarians/vegans is because we have money and that it's just not an option for the majority of people. I would love to show her this book next time we get together! Email is harmonybear10@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I'm glad to discover your blog.........some really healthy recipes out here.I love vegetarian food.....would love to have a copy of this book.
Please drop in at my space http://sadaf-culinaryadventures.blogspot.com