Foodbuzz sent out an email about creating a dinner recipe that features 6 or fewer ingredients. I was up for that challenge! I love to create recipes that are quick and easy, make great leftovers for my lunches, and that contain ingredients that I usually have on hand. And a $100 gift card giveaway is a nice little bonus.
I knew that I would use quinoa since it is such a versatile ingredient and I can always find new and interesting items to add to it. I had a jar of roasted red peppers that I thought would pair very well with the quinoa. The pesto was a last minute add and it really made the salad. Fresh flavors and lots of beautiful colors from the red peppers and the parsley. Sometimes using store bought things like the roasted red peppers and pesto is worth it. I often make things from scratch but this time the shortcuts were with it. The boyfriend ate about 3 bowls of this 
So I am guessing he liked it.
Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Salad
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serves 8, 1/2 cup servings
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa
- 1 jar roasted red peppers
- 1 can chickpeas
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley
- 1 container of store bought pesto
- Salt/Pepper (I’m not counting this as one of the six ingredients, I feel like it’s a freebie)
Directions
Boil 2 cups of water for the quinoa and cook about 15 minutes or until all water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork. Place in a large bowl and let cool for a few minutes.
Chop the roasted red peppers and the Italian parsley and add to the quinoa.
Add the can of chickpeas, after rinsing and draining to the mixture.
Stir in the pesto and top with salt/pepper. Let the salad chill for at least 20 minutes.
Want to win a $100 dollar gift card (who wouldn’t want to win that?) Leave a comment by 9/30/11 and I will randomly select a winner and announce that lucky person by 10/3/11. As part of the Dinner@6 contest sponsored by Blue Cash PreferredSM, American Express provided me with a $100 gift card to give out to one lucky commenter. Sound off in the comments for a chance to win! In case you want to read them, here are the official rules.
What is your favorite six-ingredient recipe?
{ 34 comments }
I’d like to be entered to win the $100 gift card please!
Also, here’s another tasty 6-ingredient recipe:
Butternut Squash and Asparagus Risotto
1 1/4 c uncooked arborio rice
3 tsp olive oil
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 (12 oz) package frozen pureed butternut squash
6 tablespoons grated fresh parmesan cheese
asparagus tips
1 cup water (i don’t count water as an ingredient!)
salt & pepper (these are freebies too)
prepare asparagus tips in sautee pan with a 1 tsp of olive oil.
combine rice and 2 tsp oil in microwave-safe dish, stir and microwave on high for 3 min. add broth and 1c water to rice mixture, microwave uncovered on high for 9 min. stir and microwave another 6 min. remove and let stand 5 min or until liquid is absorbed.
while risotto stands, heat squash in microwave on high 2 min. add squash, salt, pepper, asparagus, and parmesan cheese to risotto. garnish with additional parmesan. Enjoy!
This salad sounds great!
One of my favorites lately is a pesto pasta with roasted tomatoes and goat cheese.
pesto
pasta
tomatoes
goat cheese
emily (a nutritionist eats)´s last [type] ..daily eats: 9/13/11
I love all your quinoa salads!
Lately I’ve been making a stuffed chicken breast with goat cheese, capers, and spinach. It’s quick, easy, and tasty.
this sounds delicious! i had to bring a dish to pass for a department gathering today – i really wish this recipe had been posted a day or two earlier!
it’s ok, i forgive you though. i ended up throwing together farro, sun-dried tomatoes, and balsamic viniagrette and calling it good. i hope my co-workers like it!
sarah (sarah learns)´s last [type] ..wednesday eats
Great giveaway!
Inside Out Buffalo Wings (only 5 ingredients!)
chicken breasts
bleu cheese
wing sauce/hot sauce
garlic salt
pepper
Flatten chicken breasts, sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Place bleu cheese in middle, roll up, secure with toothpick, coat in wing sauce and bake!
Tortilla shell pizzas
I burrito-sized soft tortilla shell
¼ cup pizza sauce
½ cup mozzarella cheese
Toppings of your choice (to make it 6 ingredients, I would go with mushrooms and onions).
(I am totally ball-parking the sauce and cheese amounts, because I usually just throw stuff on until it looks good to me
haha)
Place the tortilla shell in the oven on a pizza pan or cookie sheet at 350 for just a few minutes until it starts to crisp up. Take it out of the oven, add sauce, cheese, and toppings, and then place back into the oven for about another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted. Perfect amount for 1-2 people!
OBSESSED with quinoa recently!!!
six ingredients…hmmmm…
two slices Ezekiel toast
2 {generous} T peanut or almond butter
one smushed banana
sprinkle of sea salt
sprinkle of cinnamon
1 glass of cold milk
breakfast deliciousness!
holly´s last [type] ..Dear Future Man Friend…*
Crossing my fingers I win! Here’s my 6 ingredient salad I love to make:
Edamame Hummus
1 cup shelled edamame
1 can chickpeas, rinsed
1/4 cup olive oil
1 T smoked paprika
2 tsp lemon juice
2 T tahini
First puree edamame and chickpeas in food processor, then blend in rest of ingredients!
Amanda´s last [type] ..Salsa Verde Recipe and Best Find at the Farmer’s Market – Ground Cherries!
I would love a 100 gift card… A luxury pedicure sounds like an amazing way to spend that!
Crock pot chicken
bag of frozen chicken breasts
Can of black beans drained
1 cup of salsa
Can of corn drained (optional)
1 large Onion cut in slices
I put it in the crock pot together all day and let it go. We eat it on torillas. One of our family favorites. I know many that put it over brown rice also.
Great giveaway Mellissa!
Roasted red peppers…pesto… while I have yet to try quinoa, this looks YUM! Think it would be tasty as a salad topper, too.
Christine´s last [type] ..Needs a name…
That looks delicious! I’ve been loving Quinoa lately. Did the recipe for foodbuzz have to be a salad or a main dish?
This weekend I made quinoa for my husband for the first time. I sauteed up some garlic, green onions and broccoli with EVOO and mixed it with the quinoa, and then served grilled chicken drizzled with teriyaki sauce on top.
Alexa´s last [type] ..Missoni Madness
Cooking with 6 ingredients. I love that. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Worth cooking for dinner later.
Sheila´s last [type] ..CNA Certification
Carrot cake is my absolute favorite dessert and this microwave recipe is so easy:
Mix together:
1/2 cup oil
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
cinnamon
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 packet baking soda
1 cup of raw carrots
Put the mixture into a microwave-safe pyrex, preferably round, and in about 7 minutes it’s ready!
I love quinoa! I will have to try this recipe for sure!
Melissa (MelissaLikesToEat)´s last [type] ..142.8…Impromptu Date
That looks so yummy! One of my favorite recipes, my mom taught me how to make this, it’s so yummy with a side of mashed potatoes.
Chicken Monterrey
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil (or butter)
4 chicken breasts
2 cups of shredded Monterrey jack cheese
1/2 c onions (sliced)
1 c mushrooms (canned or fresh)
1 clove of garlic (minced)
1 pinch of Morton’s seasoning salt
Heat oil in pan, add garlic and onions and cook til translucent, add chicken breasts and grill over medium heat until nearly browned on both sizes, sprinkle with seasoning salt and add mushrooms to pan. Turn heat to low, sprinkle each chicken breast with some shredded cheese, and then cover with skillet lid. Allow cheese to melt then serve immediately.
I love hummus and/or guac. they usually involve about 5-6 ingredients, and they’re always so fresh and delightful.
Elise´s last [type] ..Life Before Prelims: Take 2 & Blood Tests
I could live off of yogurt, granola and fresh fruit all summer. So simple and so delish.
Honey-Soy Pork Chops
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon sherry or unsweetened apple juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 boneless pork loin chops
combine the first five ingredients. Pour 1/2 cup into a large resealable plastic bag; add pork chops.
Drain and discard marinade. Moisten a paper towel with cooking oil; using long-handled tongs, lightly coat the grill rack.
over heat for 4-5 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer reads 160°, basting frequently with remaining marinade.
I would love to win this! Thanks for the chance!
Creamy Chicken Italiano
8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese (softened)
1 envelope of Italian dressing mix
4 Chicken breasts
1/4 cup water
1 can cream chicken soup
1 can mushrooms drained
Put chicken in crockpot. Mix water and dressing mix then pour over chicken. Blend cream cheese and soup together then pour over chicken. Combine all and then set to cook!
Lynda Del´s last [type] ..Moby Apple iPad2 (9/30)
My favorite 6-ingredient recipe is Baked Eggs with Tomato and Spinach: 8 eggs (separated), half an onion, bunch of spinach, can of diced tomatoes, Parmesan Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese.
Mix eggs whites with cheeses. Saute onions, add spinach and tomatoes. Add to egg mixture and pour into small baking pan. Top with egg yolks and bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes until puffed and golden. Delicious with crusty french bread!
yum…love me some quinoa…I mix it with lentils, onion carrot and celery with a bay leaf…
This recipe sound great. Thanks
looks so yummy i think i will try it
My favorite 6 ingredient recipe is my roasted asparagus: http://www.ultra-epicure.com/2011/03/kerrygold-throwdown.html
It is fabulous!!
I can’t wait to try your recipe….I just love quinoa and love that it is a perfect protein.
My favorite is actually one I found on the Bisquick recipes website and I make it all the time:
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/hearty-chicken-pot-pie/07ca9e43-c96f-4540-991c-564ee78bd768
My favorite six ingredient recipe is a stuffed green pepper: green pepper, ground beef, tomato sauce, rice, mozzarella cheese and onion. Cook ground beef with onion drain grease, cook rice as directed, clean pepper outside and scoop out inside, add tomato sauce and cooked rice to beef and then stuff in pepper and top with cheese and bake
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Mexi casserole… Ground turkey, taco seasoning, enchilada sauce, shredded cheese, black beans and tortilla chips.
Mom’s Pork Tenderloin!
http://iwasborntocook.blogspot.com/2011/01/winding-down-from-holiday-madness.html
Melissa@IWasBornToCook´s last [type] ..Get your canned pumpkin yet? (Secret Recipe Club)
Love me some quinoa! Here’s my 6 ingredient recipe (just nix the tomato and pine nuts)
http://adamlovesfood.com/2011/05/03/chicken-pesto-pasta-recipe-aka-c-p-squared
great recipe and giveaway!
here’s mine:
orrechiette pasta
garlic, chopped
red pepper flakes
olive oil
blanched broccoli rabe, chopped
diced red bell pepper
boil pasta according to directions.
in a pan heat olive oil. sauté garlic, and red pepper flakes for about a minute. add in red bell pepper, sauté for 3 min. add in broccoli rate, sauté for a min or so. mix pasta and a bit of the water in. season w/ salt and pepper
This looks so healthy and delicious. I can’t wait to try it.
always looking for new ways to prepare quinoa. thx!
keelymarie´s last [type] ..Asian {Taco} Night ::: Ground Beef Lettuce Wraps
Beautiful dish! I don;t know why but Quinoa just doesn’t do it for me
I WANT to love it but no matter how many different ways I have had it prepared it doesn’t rock my world like it does for so many! I do however adore millet! I wonder if that would be a good substitution for this recipe?
I agree salt and pepper is totally a freebie
One of my favorite go-to 6 ingredient recipes would have to be: 1 cup cooked corn pasta, 1/2 cup cubed extra firm tofu, 1 cup sautéed broccoli, handful of fresh baby spinach, a drizzle of olive oil and a very very generous sprinkle of grated Romano cheese. (Oh, and salt and pepper!
)
Sarah @ Sarah’s Modern Bites´s last [type] ..L’Espalier Love, Wine Geek Stuff, oh, and more BARS!
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