Quinoa Kale Pesto Bowls with Poached Eggs

February 13, 2015

Quinoa Kale Pesto Bowls with Poached Eggs




There are three phrases I want to say before I’m sprawled on my deathbed.
To be honest I don’t think I will ever be in a situation where I could actually say those phrases (i.e., very dramatic scenarios) but I still want to believe that the right occasion will come one day — hope dies last after all.

Quinoa Kale Pesto Bowls with Poached Eggs

The first is: “At my signal, unleash hell!
Which has to be the coolest phrase ever.
I’m aware that the chances of me becoming a General of the Roman Army (a Legatus) are pretty slim; but who knows, there might a scenario where I could actually pronounce it with making a complete fool of myself.
For instance, my 9-year old nephew is a killer farter (he looks so angelic and then lets out a ripper, usually when we’re in the car). So maybe one day I can unleash him in the elevator of my building with my new neighbor — that will teach him a lesson about slamming drawers in the middle of the night.
The second is: “Officers, arrest that man!
There are actually more chances for me to pronounce this one (compared to the other). Though I want the scene to be overly dramatic, if possible with suspenseful music playing in the background, and dim lightning. Is that too much to ask?
The third phrase must remain a secret until the time it is uttered. It is an awesome phrase, reserved for a proportionately awesome moment in my life. If that will ever happen.

Quinoa Kale Pesto Bowls with Poached Eggs




One phrase I love to say is “You guys should give this recipe a go because it’s totally legit!
And when I say it, I totally mean it, trust me.
It’s not just a catch phrase I use to fill a blank space on the page. For real people.
Take these quinoa kale pesto bowls with poached eggs. They are legit, in all respects.
Delicious, full of goodness, healthy, wholesome, and nutritionally complete.
My idea of what food should be.
They’re also so easy to make. They literally come together in 20 minutes tops.
Sure, if you have some leftover kale pesto (like I did) then this recipe is a complete no-brainer. Cook some quinoa, poach an egg and voilĂ  lunch or dinner (maybe even breakfast) is served.
But even if you do have to make kale pesto from scratch, it’s still going to be super duper easy and quick.
And trust me, you’re going to unleash hell on your table because they’re going to fight over the last bit. That good.

Quinoa Kale Pesto Bowls with Poached Eggs


Quinoa Kale Pesto Bowl with Poached Eggs                                                               Print this recipe!

Ingredients
Serves 4

1 cup quinoa
½ cup kale pesto (to make kale pesto use this recipe)
Zest of one lemon
Juice of ½ lemon
4 eggs
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)

Directions

Place quinoa into a fine-mesh strainer. Rinse thoroughly with cool water for about 2 minutes. Rub and swish the quinoa with your hand while rinsing. Drain.
Heat a splash of olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat, and add the drained quinoa. Cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, letting the water evaporate.
Add 2 cups of water and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Bring to a rolling boil, lower to a simmer (turn heat down to the lowest setting), cover, and cook for 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let stand for 5 more minutes, covered.
Remove the lid and fluff the quinoa gently with a fork (you should see tiny spirals separating from and curling around the quinoa seeds.)
Combine cooked quinoa with kale pesto, and mix to coat the quinoa thoroughly.
Season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
Divide quinoa among separate bowls.
Top off quinoa with lemon zest, chopped walnuts and red pepper flakes.
Make poached eggs (I use this foolproof recipe) and serve them over quinoa bowls. Sprinkle some salt and pepper on the eggs and serve!

Nutrition facts

One serving yields 290 calories, 15 grams of fat, 21 grams of carbs, and 11 grams of protein.

24 comments:

  1. Great phrases! I can take a guess at the last one ;-) This looks delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  2. We need a match between your nephew and our Jack Russell, Buck.

    then we need to leave the house and call some type of clean up chemical brigade...

    so I guess the last phrase you will never tell. TEASER!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting phrases ! I'm going to think about my own ones. I checked out your kale pesto and it looks fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This just looks unbelievably delicious.The texture, the gooey egg yolk the EVERYTHING! I love that first line of yours, but after that in Gladiator, my favorite is "Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the TRUE emperor, Marcus Aurelius. Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next." Take that Commodus! BTW, Joaquin Phoenix was totally ROBBED of an Oscar for his role. Great dish here friend! #WolfpackEats

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Probably all lines from "The Gladiator" are epic, because that's an epic movie. Let me rephrase that it's THE epic movie!

      Delete
  5. Which person in their right mind has leftover pesto...

    Can't say I'm familiar with the first two phrases but oui to the last one. Especially if it HAS to be this recipe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wait a sec, you're not familiar with "At my signal, unleash hell!"? I don't think I can still call you friend then...
      :/

      Delete
  6. Love the idea for the kale pesto. I'm sure making it next time. Pinned!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Aside from wanting to ask a cop if it's too early for flapjacks, I can't think of any phrases I've wanted to repeat, though this may just show my lack of imagination in this regard. :-)

    This is totally one of those recipes I want to eat right away because it looks so good! Why do I not have leftover pesto??! Argh!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 'Why not have leftover pesto' that is a question I often ask myself, because there's never enough pesto in my life!

      Delete
  8. These quinoa bowls look great Mike - and definitely make for a perfect nutrition filled meal. I never have made a kale pesto before and you definitely have motivated me to try the recipe now.. looks and sounds delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I TRULY HATE that I cannot eat quinoa or cheese. Stupid.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dude! Gladiator is the best movie ever. No questions asked. So here's the thing about being able to utter that epic line. I may or may not have a full out gladiator outfit. I'm not talking like those cheap plastic things you see at Halloween. I'm talking the real deal. I think it came from a place that supplies costumes to Hollywood. So you could borrow it and run through Times Square yelling lines from Gladiator. You might get arrested, but you'll have an epic adventure in doing so! And I'll bail you out...because that's what the Wolfpack does. But only if you save me some of this quinoa kale pesto! #WolfpackEats

    ReplyDelete
  11. This looks like my ideal breakfast, lunch, and dinner! "Proportionally awesome moment" is a great phrase unto itself - great post as always! :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just finished making this and was so proud that I posted pictures everywhere. I accidentally used a cup of pesto but really, it was still so delicious. Absolutely kills that cheesy pasta craving I get once a day lol.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Can't wait to try this recipe! I have one phrase that I'd love to say some time - "Call the pilots, we're going home."

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sprinkle pepper on the eggs drives every recipe flavor. Awesome look & yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This dish is great. I've made it a few times with variations -- some more successful than others. First time, I used couscous instead of quinoa since there was no quinoa around and it was delicious. The second time I tried it without blanching the kale and it didn't work out so well - I think the blanching reduces bitterness. This time I used cauliflower rice from Trader Joe's and it's delicious again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The sole purpose of blanching the kale is to reduce the bitterness and thus it's non-negotiable ;)
      I've tried it as well with couscous and I liked it a lot. I'm gonna try it as well with cauliflower rice, sounds amazing!

      Delete