Lamb and Quinoa Saute

This came about one night while trying to figure out what to make with the odds and ends we had lying around in the fridge. This is what I came up with. You can change up the vegetables to suit what is lying around your pantry. For the spices, I fell back on one of my favorite mixtures: ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes and oregano but you can alter that too. If you've never tried quinoa, you are in for a treat. It has a slightly nutty, light taste and cooks up in just 15 minutes.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1  shallot, chopped
• 1⁄2  red pepper, seeded and roughly chopped
• 1  celery rib, roughly chopped
• 1  carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1  head broccoli, cut into small florets
• 1  bunch  mustard greens, cut into chiffonades
• 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 5 -6  cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1⁄8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  granulated garlic
• 1⁄2 teaspoon oregano
• 1  tablespoon soy sauce
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  sesame oil
• 1  teaspoon rice vinegar
• 2  shoulder lamb chops, deboned and cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1  cup quinoa
• 1  teaspoon margarine
• 2  cups water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon white poppy seeds

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.
2. Add shallot and let cook about 3 - 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the carrots, celery and peppers. Let cook an additional 5 minutes or so, stirring occasionally.
4. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan combine the water, margarine and the quinoa. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and cover. Simmer over a very low flame until all the water is absorbed. About 15 minutes.
5. Once the vegetables have become tender and browned, add the lamb cubes. then add the ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano, soy sauce, rice vinegar and the sesame oil. Stir to blend all the flavors.
6. Let cook about 10 minutes, then add the broccoli, mustard greens and the kidney beans. Cook and additional 10 minutes or until the lamb is cooked through.
7. Right before taking it off the heat, add the cherry tomatoes and the white poppy seeds.
8. Serve alongside the cooked quinoa.