Holiday stuffing doesn’t have to mean blowing your diet. Substitute protein and fiber rich quinoa for starchy rice and heavy bread stuffings. This delicious stuffing may become the new family favorite and provides maximum flavor, protein, and is a refreshing alternative to traditional stuffings.
Quinoa Sausage Stuffing with Cranberry and Sage
Serves 8
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water (or vegetable or chicken broth)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
½ pound Italian sausage
½ pound Italian turkey sausage*
15 medium sage leaves, chopped
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
½ to 1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
¾ cup roughly chopped toasted walnuts
¾ cup dried cranberries
Directions:
Make quinoa by bringing quinoa and water (or broth) to a boil over high heat in a medium stockpot or saucepan. Once boiling, cover and reduce heat to medium low. Cook for 15 minutes or until the liquid has been absorbed. Set aside, covered, until ready to use.
In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute 1 and a half minutes. Add Italian and turkey sausage and cook until browned, breaking up with a wooden spoon during the cooking process. Stir in sage, thyme, cooked quinoa, salt and pepper until well combined. Stir in walnuts and cranberries. Serve as a side dish or stuff cooked Cornish hens or turkey and serve on a platter. (Copyright Susan Irby The Bikini Chef 2012)
*NOTE: If turkey sausage is not available Italian seasoned, add ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning to the recipe when adding the turkey sausage.
Nutrition:
Calories: 333.2
Fat: 19.0g
Carbohydrates: 28.0g
Protein: 14.5g
Fiber: 3.2g
Sodium: 274.2mg
TV, Radio host and multi-published author, Susan Irby The Bikini Chef, hosts Bikini Lifestyles on national public television and AM 790 KABC radio. Specializing in healthy, flavorful recipes as found in her books The Complete Idiot’s Guide Quinoa Cookbook (July 2012 Penguin Publishing), Substitute Yourself Skinny, Boost Your Metabolism (Adams Media 2010). Among media appearances, The Bikini Chef has been featured on FOX11 Good Day LA, KCAL9, CBS2, ABC7. www.thebikinichef.com. NOW AVAILABLE! The Complete Idiot’s Guide Quinoa Cookbook http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Quinoa-cookbook/dp/1615641939/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336586754&sr=8-1. Follow Susan Irby The Bikini Chef on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/thebikinichef and become a fan on Facebook http://tinyurl.com/2famueb