I have been craving pizza like nuts lately. It might have something to do with the fact that we ate pizza like three times during hurricane week and my body is in withdrawals. Even though I live just down the block from the best pizzeria in NYC, and maybe the world, I am trying to stay away. There’s actually a new nickname for the weight people have gained by being stuck indoors during the hurricane – “The Sandy 5.” And mine definitely came from pizza.
While wracking my brain for pizza-esque things that weren’t a carb overload, I remembered this yummy recipe that I shared in a guest post this summer over at Eat Pray Tri – Quinoa Pizza Bake. This is comfort food at its finest – cheesy, tomatoey, but packed with protein and will not put you into the dreaded carb coma.
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- 1 6oz can tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp oregano
- 5 fresh basil leaves (plus more for garnish)
- salt and pepper to taste
- Combine quinoa and vegetable stock in a small pot over high heat.
- Bring to a boil, cover and turn down to low and simmer for 15 minutes until all the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a skillet, brown the onions and garlic until onions are translucent.
- In a small bowl, combine the tomato paste, garlic, onions, water and olive oil, and mix well.
- Add in oregano and basil and mix before adding the mixture to the quinoa.
- Add in half the mozzarella cheese to the quinoa and mix. Once all the ingredients are combined, taste and add salt and pepper, as needed.
- Transfer the mixture to the casserole dish and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and place in the oven for 30-35 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve.
Next time a pizza craving strikes, turn to your good friend quinoa. You won’t regret it!
What’s your favorite comfort food?
My mouth seriously is watering, looking at those photos. I must book mark this recipe for a later date! Gah!! Yum.
Nancy recently posted..OOTWW & TripleFFriday #6
Hahah, you\’re not alone! I want some too, but it\’s all gone! 🙂
Mmmm comfort food! 🙂 Honestly, any warm food that I eat when it gets dark early is comforting to me! ha ha. But really, the best comfort food comes from my DAD! My dad is amazing cook and when I go home for the holidays he always makes amazing meals just for me.
GiGi Eats Celebrities recently posted..Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama: Chowing Down!
Home cooked meals are the best. Food always seems to taste better when someone else cooks for you, doesn\’t it?
Yum, I’ve made something similar and it is so good 🙂
Jen recently posted..Observations from the gym…
Yum indeed! 🙂