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Quinoa Pilaf with Shiitakes, Edamame, and Ginger

By Dan Souza

Published on November 21, 2013

Time

55 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Quinoa Pilaf with Shiitakes, Edamame, and Ginger

Ingredients

1 ½ cups prewashed quinoa 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 4 scallions, white parts minced, green parts sliced thin on bias4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced thin2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger ¾ teaspoon salt 1 ¾ cups water ½ cup cooked shelled edamame 4 teaspoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoon mirin

Before You Begin

If you buy unwashed quinoa, rinse the grains in a fine-mesh strainer, drain them, and then spread them on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a dish towel and let them dry for 15 minutes before proceeding with the recipe. We like the convenience of prewashed quinoa. If you buy unwashed quinoa (or if you are unsure if it's washed), quinoa should be rinsed before cooking to remove its bitter protective coating (called saponin) and dried on a towel. We developed this recipe using using white quinoa. Red quinoa will work, but because its seed coat is thicker, the grains have a crunchier texture. Black quinoa's seed coat is even thicker than that of red quinoa; we don't recommend it for this recipe.

Instructions

  1. Toast quinoa in medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until quinoa is very fragrant and makes continuous popping sound, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer quinoa to bowl and set aside.
  2. Return now-empty pan to medium-low heat and heat oil until shimmering. Add scallion whites, shiitakes, ginger, and salt; cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Increase heat to medium-high, stir in water and quinoa, and bring to simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until grains are just tender and liquid is absorbed, 18 to 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking. Remove pan from heat, stir in edamame, and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff quinoa with fork; stir in scallion greens, vinegar, and mirin; and serve.
Quinoa Pilaf with Shiitakes, Edamame, and Ginger

Quinoa Pilaf with Shiitakes, Edamame, and Ginger

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Time

55 minutes

Yield

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1 ½ cups prewashed quinoa
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 scallions, white parts minced, green parts sliced thin on bias
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced thin
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
¾ teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups water
½ cup cooked shelled edamame
4 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon mirin

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 ½ cups prewashed quinoa
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 scallions, white parts minced, green parts sliced thin on bias
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced thin
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
¾ teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups water
½ cup cooked shelled edamame
4 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon mirin

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 ½ cups prewashed quinoa
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 scallions, white parts minced, green parts sliced thin on bias
4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced thin
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
¾ teaspoon salt
1 ¾ cups water
½ cup cooked shelled edamame
4 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon mirin

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

Most recipes for quinoa pilaf turn out woefully overcooked because they call for nearly twice as much liquid as they should. We cut the water back to ensure tender grains with a satisfying bite. We toast the quinoa in a dry skillet to develop its natural nutty flavor and finish our pilaf with a judicious amount of boldly flavored ingredients.

Before You Begin

If you buy unwashed quinoa, rinse the grains in a fine-mesh strainer, drain them, and then spread them on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a dish towel and let them dry for 15 minutes before proceeding with the recipe. We like the convenience of prewashed quinoa. If you buy unwashed quinoa (or if you are unsure if it's washed), quinoa should be rinsed before cooking to remove its bitter protective coating (called saponin) and dried on a towel. We developed this recipe using using white quinoa. Red quinoa will work, but because its seed coat is thicker, the grains have a crunchier texture. Black quinoa's seed coat is even thicker than that of red quinoa; we don't recommend it for this recipe.

Instructions

  1. Toast quinoa in medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until quinoa is very fragrant and makes continuous popping sound, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer quinoa to bowl and set aside.
  2. Return now-empty pan to medium-low heat and heat oil until shimmering. Add scallion whites, shiitakes, ginger, and salt; cook, stirring frequently, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Increase heat to medium-high, stir in water and quinoa, and bring to simmer. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer until grains are just tender and liquid is absorbed, 18 to 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through cooking. Remove pan from heat, stir in edamame, and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff quinoa with fork; stir in scallion greens, vinegar, and mirin; and serve.

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