Quinoa French Onion Casserole

Ingredients

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• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
  
  1/2 red onion
  
  pressed/squeezed garlic
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups chopped broccoli
• 1 (10 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup

• 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup French-fried onions
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup French-fried onions
  
  
  This turned out tastier and healthier than I thought it would be to be honest.  The biggest pain in the ass is cleaning the quinoa.  Seems this stuff has a coating requiring rinsing - easiest way is to let it soak for 30 minutes then rinse the quinoa until the rinse water is clear.  Then in a pot with the 2 cups of water and salt add the quinoa and bring to a boil.  Once at a boil reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. In the meantime in a frying pan having cut up the onions, drizzle the bottom of the pan with olive oil, add the onions and the garlic and let them cook until soft.  Broccoli is another story -- I don't know how you like it cooked, some like it al-dente, others softer, I like it massacred so however you like your cooked broccoli, go ahead and do that at the same time.
  Once the quinoa is ready and still in the pot throw in the onion/garlic mixture, the broccoli, the cheese, the 1/2 cup of French Fried Onions, the lemon pepper, the ranch dressing and mix together.  Spray the dish you are going to use in the oven with some vegetable spray, then pour the mixture into the dish, then dish into the pre-heated oven for 20 minutes.  After 20 remove and cover the dish with the remaining 1/2 or more -- go ahead -- of French Fried onion rings and back in the oven for 5 to 10 more minutes.  Just to crisp them up not to burn -- and you're ready!
  
  
  
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