I’ve been feeling really tired lately and I’m wondering if I’m lacking protein, particularly since I cut down on dairy recently. So, I vowed to make a lunch with a decent amount of protein. One of my go-to lunch bases is quinoa since it’s a quick, easy protein source and it combines well with lots of things. Plus, I still had some leftover black beans from the last batch I cooked. Quinoa + beans = good protein for me.
I remembered that I’d seen a quinoa recipe involving lime on a blog recently, but I was too lazy to look it up so I improvised with what I had on hand. I will, however, be making that version soon. It sounds great. Anyway, here’s my recipe:
Lime Quinoa with Black Beans, Scallions, and Feta
(1) Combine the following three ingredients in a pan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- 1/3 c. dry quinoa
- 2/3 c. water
- 1 small whole garlic clove, peeled
(2) While the quinoa cooks, combine the following:
- 1 scallion/green onion [it’s the same thing], thinly sliced
- 1/4 c – 1/2 c. black beans [if you are using canned beans, be sure to drain and rinse them well]
- 1 T. crumbled feta [yeah, yeah, I know, it’s dairy]
- splash of lime juice; I used bottled lime juice and started with about 1 teaspoon and then added some more to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
(3) When the quinoa is cooked, use a spoon to mash the garlic clove and stir it around in the quinoa.
(4) Then dump the quinoa on the bean mixture [it’ll melt the feta just a little…mmm…] and stir it all up. Give ‘er a taste and add more lime juice if you feel the need.
Enjoy! I sure did. I didn’t have any leftovers, but I’m willing to bet this would taste even better the next day.
I’m gonna do some push-ups, cross a couple things off my to-do list and then head to bed. I’ve got spin at 5:30 AM! Night!
Also, FYI, I hit the snooze just once today, ate my breakfast at the dining table, and chewed my oatmeal slowly. Be proud!
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
sounds delicious! i made a quinoa and lime recipe recently too: http://syrupandhoney.typepad.com/blog/2010/01/quinoa-with-roasted-sweet-potatoes.html
Holy cow. That sounds SO good! Sweet potato and lime??? Brilliant! I’m making this as soon as I buy some sweet potatoes. Yum!
Love your blog! Your pictures are great.
LOL about the feta..Funny though because my friend with the dairy allergy just can’t tolerate COW’s dairy..and feta is actually supposed to be from sheep or goat milk [i can't remember]. Places are sneaky making it from cow’s milk…the real stuff is SO much better and probably won’t lead to your mucus problem
mucus….so.hot..lol But maybe you have the non-cow-feta…??? Once you see if dairy is the culprit see if you can add goat cheese into your diet. I’ve seen “mozzarella goat cheese” at WF before too..pricey but worth it to have some cheese in your life! woop!
hmmm…interesting….I need to be better about really 100% cutting out cow’s milk since I’m still having it here and there. But I have noticed a little improvement in my mucus problem [sick]. I think my biggest issue would be cheese, so I need to look into some alternatives. I wonder if they have goat’s brie…and if it’s any good…
p.s. I’m so proud for your “fyi!”
Thank you, thank you.
That looks so good! I marked it as a favorite in my reader so I can try it sometime!
Let me know if you try it! I hope you like it!
Quinoa rocks – it is super versatile! This combo looks and sounds like a winner : )
amen! It does rock!
I feel you on those 5am spin classes sister. Sheesh. That Quinoa looks amazing, I gotta incorporate some into my lunch tomorrow too. Amy’s refried beans may come into play, but I cant decide what I want to do with it…hmmm…
ugh. You teach at 5??? That’s 10x worse than 5:30.
Yes, you need quinoa in your life. I’ve never had Amy’s refried beans…are they tasty?
Thanks for sharing this! And thanks for your email…I’m going to be trying some very soon.
Most importantly…I just tried your bread- Oh my delicious! I gobbled up two pieces like it was nothin. It has a different depth to it (if that even makes sense) that I loved! Thanks again!
I know exactly what you mean by “depth” – it’s so good. Try it toasted with some butter. you’ll die.
So I just made Beef and Broccoli and served it over quinoa for dinner tonight…Delicious! I have to admit, I was a little hesitant to try it, but I was pleasantly surprised! It tastes just like rice, just with a different texture. Welcome to my menu quinoa
Thanks for your suggestions and for helping me to get out of my food box and try new things!
I’m so glad you liked it! The texture is awesome huh!
That is the exact meal I wanted to eat tonight! Unfortunately, I had an evenly class and didn’t have any time to make it
Your version looks awesome!
bummer! I need to be better about making extra quinoa so I can whip stuff up on busy nights.
this sounds so incredible! lime juice is a great ingredient…so fresh and so clean (clean!
) but seriously, this sounds amazing, and I’m SO proud of you on your FYI 
hehehe – as soon as I read “so fresh”, before I read the rest of it, I was already saying “so fresh and so clean clean” in my head. hehe
And thank you for being proud of me.
5:30am – you crazy! I am aiming to make the 7:30am class =)
Trust me, I would never do that on my own. I had to teach.
Thanks for the shout out!! I think I like your version better
I think almost any version of quinoa is good.
I loved the lime idea – I never would have thought to do that!
Ahh quinoa and black beans is the ultimate combo…I love it so much. I bet the lime in there was fantastic! Good job on your goals! I need to chew more slowly too…
Seriously, it is such a good combo and it works well with so many different flavors.
Chewing slowly is so hard for me. I seriously have to think about it. Maybe eating left handed or using chopsticks would help me be more conscious?
I too would have added the feta here….more energy sustain! Need to make more Quinoa around here, great recipe! Love the new profile pic
Feta makes everything betta!
And thanks for the compliment about my pic!
Sooo I’ve only been snoozing the (evil) alarm clock 2-3 times…..trust me, this is much improved for me!!
Thanks for the motivation!
Good job! I believe 2-3 times is an improvement. I’m a 6,7,8 time snoozer. haha!
I am going to eat this tonight!! I’ve been jonesing for some quinoa and I love black beans and lime! Can’t wait – I’ll make lots so that I have some leftovers and let you know how they are the next day
awesome! I’m excited to hear about the leftovers!
I recently discovered how much I like quinoa. I love finding new grains to enjoy.
Awesome looking salad girl.
Black Beans and Lime and Feta….delicious combinations!
Have fun at spin tomorrow.
I think I heard somewhere that the traditional Latin combination of black beans, rice, and lime was supposed to create a complete meal – somehow each of the 3 ingredients completed the other. I tried googling for a good article but didn’t find one.
Anywho, your quinoa looks fab!
Have a great Friday!
I’ve never heard that, but so cool if it is true!!
Happy Friday to you too!
I love quinoa, I should def make it more often.
And good job on the chewing, I seriously inhale food, and I don’t even mean too! But I always beat my bf when we eat together, he eats so slow, I’m like “how do you do it?!?!?”
Maybe I can blame it on growing up with 5 brothers…and I had to beat them at something so I learned beat them in eating??
Hey fellow Alta Alum! Love your blog!! So I tried your recipe – first time trying quinoa – and all I can say is LOVE IT!! I had to make it again the next day and made enough for left overs for work.
.-= Jill´s last blog ..To Run or Not to Run?? =-.
Jill, hi!!!! So good to “hear” from you! I’m so glad that you liked quinoa. You’ll find that you’ll kind of wonder how you lived without it before.
Thanks for stopping by! I’m so glad you have a blog too.
This quinoa sounds awesome!
This whole dish sounds simple and delicious! Sometimes simple is all it takes