Quinoa Fried Rice

I really have no idea why it has taken me so long to post this recipe. In school I made quinoa fried rice almost every Sunday night. It's the ultimate healthy comfort food! I always have frozen veggies in the freezer and quinoa stocked in the pantry, so it's a staple meal in my repertoire! 

This weekend while in Dallas, we had a sushi dinner at Shinsei. They told us they were known for their fried rice which they could make with white rice, brown rice or quinoa. Quinoa I hear?? They just spoke my love language. The dish came out with a fried egg on top instead of scrambled into the rice. Okay ya, so into that. I instantly knew I would be coming home to make it. I've now been eating it every night this week!

Cheat trick. I'm obsessed with this stuff. It's so easy to throw in while cooking and easier than trying to keep fresh garlic on hand. Second trick to my fried rice is using tamari instead of soy sauce. It's basically a gluten free less sodium version of soy sauce. It's still made from soy beans but leaves out the wheat and crazy saltiness you get from soy sauce.

Quinoa Fried Rice
serves 1

Ingredients:
3/4 cup cooked quinoa
2 tsp. coconut oil or olive oil, plus extra or frying your egg
combo of frozen or fresh corn, peas, edamame, carrots, broccoli etc.
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
2 Tbsp. tamari
1 egg
2 green onions, chopped
3 basil leaves, chiffonade (optional)
pepper
paprika

Directions:
Cook quinoa according to package directions. Quinoa is a 2:1 ratio. For example 2 cups water for 1 cup quinoa, or 1 cup water for 1/2 cup quinoa. I like to cook up a big batch and just keep it in the fridge to turn into fried rice or throw in salads. 

To make the fried rice, add 2 tsp. of your choice of cooking oil to a pan over medium heat. Cook frozen veggies until tender then add in garlic. Add quinoa to pan and mix everything together. Drizzle over tamari or soy sauce. Cook everything together until heated and combined. Transfer to a serving dish and wipe out your pan. Add a little more oil to the hot pan then crack your egg in slowly. Cover with a lid and let it fry, don't flip it! This will keep the yolk pretty!

Once your egg is fried slide it over the quinoa and top with chopped green onion and basil! I like to add some pepper and paprika for presentation! Eat with chopsticks and you now have healthy asian food at home!

My ultimate single girl meal. Dinner for one, check!

Annie