Lime Cilantro Quinoa with Lentils-Topped with Cilantro-Garlic Aioli

In this dish it is SUPER easy and fast to make (other than waiting for the beans to cook) & filling and satisfying for the hungriest person! (This recipe is 100% mine-I love to cook and come up with new recipes all the time! Bon Appetit!!




Ideas:

• Dried beans left behind? Save in a jar or plastic bag the few stragglers and combine with other orphaned beans for the future.
• Cilantro “Stems” save for blending in the making of the aioli sauce!
• Save finished beans for freezing or another meal in the week-Lord knows you will have enough of them!!!

Beans:
2 Cups of Lentils or mixed beans (Lentils, Split Pea, Pinto Beans Kidney beans-Barley is great in this too with the beans-it acts as a “thickener”.)
8-10 cups of water
1/2 yellow onion
4 cloves of crush garlic
1 tsp. of cumin
¼ cup of “dried vegetables” (carrot, celery, peppers) or you can use fresh veggies.
1tsp black pepper

Rinse beans & then place in a Crock Pot. Cover with water –water should be about 2-3 inches above beans. Add all of the remaining ingredients and cook on high for about 6 hours. Test for bean “tenderness”. When tender they are done. I add salt at the end, so they cook faster.

Garlic Cilantro Aioli
4 cloves of garlic
2 Small Serrano Chiles (seeds included)
“About” 1 cup of cilantro (I just tear the top off of the cilantro and “Fist” measure”) Use stems too! (it ALL gets blended and tastes the same)
¼ tsp Salt (I like Mediterranean or Himalayan salt)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until all ingredients become blended. If you do not like “heat” cut back to 1 or NO chiles, its still just as good.

Lime Cilantro Quinoa
2 Cups of Quinoa
4 Cups of water

Place both ingredients in a pot-bring to a boil.  Cover and reduce to a low simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat & let cool/steam for 5-10 minutes.

Right before serving: Juice 2 Limes & chop ¼ Cup of cilantro. Place these two items in to the pot of cooked quinoa and fluff quinoa to stir in ingredients!

Layer Quinoa on the bottom, followed by beans topped with Aioli and ENJOY!