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- Makes 12 cups
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This easy, cozy casserole melds tender quinoa with roasted cauliflower, green peas, and a zesty marinara sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 cups dry quinoa
- 3½ cups vegetable broth, divided
- ½ medium onion, cut into ¼-inch dice (1 cup)
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets (about 6 cups)
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cups store-bought marinara sauce
- 1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
Instructions
- In a large saucepan combine quinoa and 3 cups broth. Bring to a boil; then reduce heat to low and cover pan. Simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 10 minutes. Drain off any excess water, if needed.
- In a skillet, combine onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and ¼ cup broth; cook over medium for 10 minutes or until onion is tender, adding more broth, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, as needed to prevent sticking. Add cauliflower to skillet and cook 10 to 15 minutes more, or until cauliflower is just starting to get tender. Do not overcook. Add vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
- Preheat oven to 350℉. Fluff quinoa with a fork; then spread it in an even layer in the bottom of a large casserole dish. Cover quinoa with an even layer of marinara sauce, followed by cauliflower and green peas on top. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes, until there is browning on the cauliflower. Serve warm.
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Comments (22)
(5 from 11 votes)Soubds delicious. I'm going to make it right away. Thank you
I probably won't make this again. I only had 1.5 cups of quinoa and it was still too much. Maybe mix the marinara in with the quinoa rather than as a layer? This also uses too many pots. 1 for the quinoa, 1 to sauté, and 1 for the oven. My husband was pretty ambivalent about this, so it's not worth the effort.
I subbed a 28oz can of Rotel tomatoes and green Chile's and red wine vinegar. Delicious. Makes a lot of food. It's my work lunch for a week!!
New to this way of eating. My husband asked if there was more. Big win! Question: Do you add the remaining broth at once while cooking the cauliflower or do you continue to add it 1-2 T at a time?
Hi Denise, Glad to hear the casserole was a win! Regarding the broth, no need to use it all; the point of the broth is just to prevent things from sticking and burning, so as long as that's not happening, you're good to go. Thank you, Courtney, editor, Forks Over Knives
I am allergic to tomatoes! Bad deal. I love them. Is there another kind of sauce?
You could try Alfredo, Bechamel, Pesto or roasted Red Pepper sauce.
What would be a good substitute for the peas. They are my least favorite veggie.
Hi Marilyn! Perhaps you could try chopped carrots, they would pair nicely with the marinara sauce and add a little sweetness similar to the peas. Enjoy!
Can the casserole be frozen once baked or will it get mushy when next thawed out?
Did you end up trying to freeze it? If so, how did it turn out? I really should have made 1/2 the recipe (my 2 y.o. and I eat a lot... but that's A LOT! )
I added some parsley and gave it a nice taste! Thanks for the recipe
Do you cook the quinoa first?
Nevermind! I just reread and saw it says dry quinoa so I am assuming it is uncooked.
yes, you cook it. Step 1.
very good. I first did it with potato on the bottom layer, instead of quinoa, and added some sunflower seed and pomegranate seed in my bowl when I ate it. I like that is can be made as a great base and then things can be added when eaten. I made it with quinoa the second time and just as good! wholesome and healthy and hearty. my husband likes spicy, so he added hot sauce in his bowl.
I was hoping for more…we love all the ingredients, but found the recipe to be rather bland. I added sautéed veggies to use up the leftovers, since the recipe fills a 9x12 dish.
Surprisingly simple and delicious! I used frozen cauliflower and it worked well.
Can I use millet or some other grain instead of quinoa?
I love amaranth, so much cheaper than quinoa and higher in protein, so I make this with amaranth, millet would give the overall dish more texture and a nuttier flavour. That would be a good thing though as like others have said, we found it a bit bland and on the next batches, increased herbs to 3 Tablespoons and a tablespoon of both onion and garlic powder as well
Very delicious and simple! Filling without making me feel heavy.
Tasty, filling and full of goodness! Thanks for sharing.