Quinoa Puttanesca

If you've never had quinoa before, you're seriously missing out. Quinoa is such a great grain to incorporate into your diet. It's super easy to cook some on a Sunday and throw it in the fridge for the week. A little quinoa goes a long way, and there's so many cool things you can do with it. For a pasta lover like me, this was a super creative way to serve it. A spicy marinara type of sauce without the guilt of pasta. Also, this recipe is vegan! There were so many flavors in this dish; spicy, sweet, salty, you name it. It was there! Not to mention how aromatic it was while cooking.

Ingredients (serves 4):
2-3 cups cooked quinoa (beware, quinoa expands when cooked! this will make a lot)

Sauce:
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp red pepper flakes
pinch of tarragon and marjoram
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 cup kalamata olives, sliced in half
1/2 cup capers (I omit)
20 oz can crushed tomatoes
fresh black pepper

Directions: Preheat sauce pan over medium. Add oil and garlic, store for 1 minute. Do not burn! Add herbs, spices, and wine. Cook for another minute. Add olives, capers (if included), and tomatoes. Cook for 15 minutes. Serve either by scooping quinoa into bowls and pouring sauce over it, or just mix it all together (I preferred this way!).

Recipe Credit to: IsaChandra, Post Punk Kitchen