Saturday, December 7, 2013

Quinoa & Black Bean Stuffed Avocados

Me thinks I've officially reached hermit status today. The errands I had scheduled for yesterday got cancelled because of icy road closures outside of my town, and it's a gloomy cold wet mess outside. I'm sure all the Northerners would laugh at us, but in Austin, everything starts shutting down when temps reach freezing. They even delayed school in our neighborhood yesterday for kiddos...um, because it's cold I think? ha! Thank God for HGTV, Food network, and Sex in the City.

Speaking of Food network, has anyone seen the show Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives with Guy Fieri? That show is going to be the absolute death of me! About 80% of the food comes with a complimentary heart attack, but man does it ever look good! It's amazing I haven't eaten myself into a food coma as much as I've been laying around and salivating over cooking shows.

However, I did whip up something totally by accident today that blew my taste buds away. I've been craving quinoa and avocados like craaazy and was trying to whip something up without having to leave the house for any ingredients. Here's the result....

Quinoa & Black Bean Stuffed Avocados

Tadah! Holy smokes, these are tiny little avocado bowls of heaven. Doesn't hurt that they are ridiculously healthy too. Unsaturated fats like those found in nuts, olive oils, cold water fish, and avocados are great foods to reduce inflammation, and a recent study also found that eating avocados more than triples IVF pregnancy rates.

Now, obviously I don't think that eating avocados is a key determinant in IVF success. Chances are if someone is eating avocados and all these other healthy sources of fat, they probably have a healthier lifestyle overall. Furthermore, I'm not even sure being healthy overall results in any real advantages for IVF at this point, because I know a whole lotta people who eat like crap, pound the coffee daily, smoke cigarettes, and have babies or are expecting.

However, avocados are healthy enough to earn super food status in my opinion, and even if they can only possibly help IVF by indirect means of decreasing inflammation, it can't hurt to include them right? Heck, I'm going to be eating this recipe all the time from now on no matter what, because they're just that good!

Here's the recipe for anyone who's interested in making it. It's gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, vegan and packed with protein, fiber, healthy fats and essential amino acids. Plus, in Chinese medicine the quinoa salad would be considered a "warming food," nourishing Yang energy to assist with implantation.

Quinoa & Black Bean Stuffed Avocados

1 cup (uncooked) quinoa
2 cups broth (or water)
1 can black beans (rinsed & drained)
1 heaping cup frozen corn
1 Tbsp. evoo
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
1/2 cup diced tomato
chipotle chili pepper
cumin
sea salt
fresh ground pepper
juice of 1 lemon
parsley
Haas avocado

Cook the quinoa in large pot according to package directions (use broth instead of water for extra flavor). Set aside.

Cook corn and drain. Then, in a skillet add evoo, red onion, cooked corn, tomato, black beans, chipotle chili pepper, cumin, salt & pepper.  (Just eyeball the spices and add to taste). Stir together and cook about 3 minutes.

Add all ingredients from the skillet to pot of cooked quinoa. Add juice of one lemon and parsley, mix well. Cover and let sit a few minutes to allow the flavors to marry.

Halve avocado and remove seed. Transfer heaping spoonfuls onto each avocado halve and serve with spoon.


Easy peasy! This makes a big ole pot of yummy warm quinoa salad, and you'll have a ton of leftovers for more avocados later. It would also be a good side dish to grilled seafood or eaten plain by itself. However, the smokiness & spiciness of the quinoa salad pairs perfectly with the coolness of the avocado.

I've got 4 more avocados just waiting to be eaten like this, and I already want another one. This could be dangerous!

23 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing! I do quinoa stuffed acorn squash, but need to try this! I love quinoa and I love avocados so this is a big win! PS Dallas is completely shut down too :(

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    1. Girl, it's so good. Eating it by the spoonful straight out of the fridge now. Ha! Stay warm up there in Dallas!

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  2. I am so excited for you guys! Your lining sounds GREAT. The transfer went smoothly and now your just relaxing and eating yummy healthy food. Are you gluten free this round? I really think that this is your time!

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    1. Thanks! Yes, I've been gluten-free for close to a year now...outside of the occasional CD1 pity party cheat meal. I sure hope you're right!

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  3. Those look so amazingly good. And that article on avos...Wow! I'm starting to eat them stat.

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    1. I know right! Head to the nearest Costco and buy those suckers in bulk. ;)

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  4. We often end up watching diners drive ins and dives, either because we are so interested in the restaurants or because its the best thing on at the moment. Those avocados look amazing. I will be trying this recipe soon!
    Stay warm! It is WAY too cold here in AZ too... I have resorted to my jackets/coats that do not get the attention they deserve and can now safely wear the sweater that often makes me break out in a sweat LOL

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    1. Really some interesting restaurants featured on there eh? You have a good point. I should just embrace getting to wear jeans and boots and clothes that never see the light of day!

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  5. That sounds really good! I've never had quinoa but it sounds amazing, I can't wait to try it!

    For what it's worth, Dallas is completely shut down too. I haven't left the house since I got home from work Thursday night. It's been a fun adventure, I hope we have more snow/ice days this winter :)

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    1. Oh man, gotta try quinoa. You can actually use it in place of rice in any dish as well.

      Thanks for making me feel like less of a bum! I've gotta go to church today to get out of this house before I go stir crazy!

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    2. I'm so thankful your post below mine, I have been pronouncing it wrong since I read your original post lol!

      You're lucky, our church was cancelled, so we haven't left the house since Thursday night. Works delayed in the morning due to freezing fog (didn't even know that was a thing!) but excited to finally venture out again :)

      Glad you're staying warm!

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  6. Girl those look soooo good!! I have never tried quinoa though...I have been kinda intimidated by it but you have sparked my interest again and this week I will be trying it out! Thanks for the post my lil hermit :)
    P.S. I live in southern Illinois and we got ice and then 9 inches of snow afterwards. Needless to say, I have been a hermit too ;)

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    1. Elisha, don't be intimidated by quinoa. I used to be scared of it, because I didn't even know how to pronounce it...which btw is KEEN-WAH in case you didn't know either. Anyhow, once I learned how to pronounce it, I got up the courage to buy it, and now it's a staple in our house.

      It's more idiot proof than rice really. Just boil it in water/broth, then simmer covered 15 minutes, let sit for 5. You can't mess it up and so many great things to make with it!

      Stay warm up there. My whole family is in IL (St. Louis area). Enjoy that beautiful snow...from INSIDE! :)

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  7. Ha! I'm pretty sure I've never craved an avocado or quinoa! Good for you girl! It's dreary here in GA too, but we just haven't gotten the super cold temps. Bummer. If it's going to be 40 degrees and raining, I'd rather it just drop enough to SNOW! Hope you enjoy your hermit status! Sounds lovely!!!

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    1. I hear you. We have the same type stuff...icky skies and rain...not cold enough for snow. My cats are even beginning to show signs of seasonal affective disorder I think. hehe

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  8. This is great, Emily! Thank you for sharing the recipe. I hope you are doing well. :) I have high hopes for you and this cycle!!!

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    1. Thank you! The wait is absolutely maddening. Eating my way through this entire pot of quinoa. :P

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  9. Oh wow this looks yummy!! I must try this ASAP!! And it's vegan too oh boy!! I absolutely love quinoa super quick super yummy. I have a quinoa chili recipe that's the bomb.com

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    1. Awesome! We just had quinoa cowboy chili the other day, and it was fabulous. I totally cheated with a mix on that one though. Have you seen these Cook Simple dinners.... http://cooksimplemeals.com/products/cowboy-chili/

      Comes with all the dry ingredients and you just add meat...kinda like hamburger helper except super healthy! Would love to check out your recipe for chili if you post it! I'm guessing yours is vegetarian, which we also love!

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  10. This is a perfect dish for a vegetarian like me! Love it! And it looks so pretty too!

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  11. We love Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. My husband and I watch it often. This recipe looks delicious, I'm going to have to try it. We love quinoa and are mostly vegetarians. Thanks for stopping by my place today.

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  12. Hi Emily..I'm doing several of my own injections this week and thought about you this morning. Sending positive thoughts your way. I hope it is going smoothly for you. It is not FUN to do....BUT it is doable :o)

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  13. Hey lady! How are you doing? I hope you are doing fabulous! Can you please send me your email address? My email is jennitis28@gmail.com

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