Quinoa Pilaf with Mushrooms and Roasted Chickpeas

Serves one lonely diner.

For the chickpeas: 1 tbsp olive oil 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry with a paper towel salt and black pepper to taste

For the quinoa: 1 or 2 tsp olive oil 2 or 3 mushrooms, washed and cut into quarters 1 garlic clove, minced salt and black pepper to taste 1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed 1 cup vegetable or chicken-style broth 1/2 cup mixed frozen vegetables of your choice (I went with peas and carrots)

1- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2- Drizzle the olive oil over a small roasting pan and add the chickpeas.

3- Give the pan a good shake to coat the chickpeas with oil and sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper over them.

4- Roast for 15 minutes, give the pan a good shake and roast for 15 more minutes or until the chickpeas are golden and crunchy. If you want to season the chickpeas, wait until you have five or six minutes left of baking time to add onion powder, thyme, paprika, etc. If you add the spices too early they might burn in the oven and ruin your precious chickpeas.

5- Let's prepare the quinoa while the chickpeas are roasting. Preheat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat.

6- Throw in the mushrooms and cook for four or five minutes or until wilted and their liquid has evaporated.

7- Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add a little bit of oil if the garlic is sticking to the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.

8- Add the quinoa, broth, and frozen vegetables, cover with a lid and bring to a boil. If your broth is salted, you're probably good to go, if not you will need to add salt to taste. I'd say 1/8 teaspoon, but hardier tastebuds might want to go with 1/4 teaspoon.

9- Lower the heat to simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until all the broth has been absorbed.

10- When the quinoa is done, remove from heat and let it sit, covered, for five minutes.



11- Fluff it up with a fork, mix in your roasted chickpeas and enjoy!



This particular mix of veggies and chickpeas goes quite well with soy sauce.