Quinoa With Basil Gremolata

This is my idea of comfort food. I could eat a bowl of this alone, on the couch (or next to the computer while researching new ideas on recipezaar!). It is a beautiful side dish warm or cold with grilled vegetables (or meat).

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups quinoa
• 2  cups water
•  salt
• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1  cup leek, thinnly sliced
• 1⁄4 cup vegetable broth or 1⁄4 cup chicken broth
•  cayenne pepper, to taste
• 4  tablespoons flat leaf parsley, Chopped
• 2  garlic cloves, chopped
• 1  lemon, juice and zest of
• 1⁄4 cup fresh basil, Chopped
•  salt and pepper
•  extra virgin olive oil (optional)
•  pine nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Rinse the quinoa and place in a medium saucepan with water and salt (now is the time to season!), cooking according to box directions. Cool.
2. Heat Olive oil in a saute pan and then add leeks, sauteeing for 2 minutes over medium high heat (to get some color on them).
3. Add the stock, lower the heat, and cook the leeks for about 5 minutes (until tender). Stock should be almost gone.
4. Add the cooked quinoa and stir to heat through. Remove from the heat.
5. Add the remaining ingredients and drizzle with a fine-quality extra virgin olive oil, if you so choose. Also nice with toasted pinenuts.