Recipe: Cashew-Pineapple Quinoa

👩‍🍳🍍 Pineapple and cashews give plain quinoa an exotic flair in this recipe.

Serve it with chicken or toss in some black beans for a full plant-based meal.

Makes 6 servings.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (180 ml) quinoa

• 2 cups (480 ml) water

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1 cup (180 g) canned pineapple chunks packed in their own juice (drain, but reserve the juice)

• ¼ cup (30 g) raw chopped cashews

• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

• Pinch of nutmeg

Directions:

1. Place the quinoa and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. 

2. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 13-15 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed. Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork.

3. Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add the cooked quinoa, pineapple chunks, and cashews. Cook until heated through, about 3-5 minutes.

4. Stir in the pineapple juice (only as much as you’d like!), salt, pepper, and nutmeg, and let cook until warm and well-combined. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by VeselovaElena from Getty Images 

Recipe: Pineapple Green Smoothie

When you think “healthy breakfast” … what’s one of the first foods that pops into your mind?

If it’s a green smoothie, you’re not alone! 

Smoothies can be a quick and easy option when you want something cool and refreshing … and I’ve got a spicy-sweet green smoothie recipe that I think you’ll love.

FROZEN GRAPE TIP: Wash and dry the grapes thoroughly then spread them out on a freezer-safe sheet pan. Put the pan in the freezer until the grapes are frozen (about an hour). Then you can transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag.

Freezing grapes separately can help stop them from freezing together. (I also love frozen grapes as a treat on a hot summer day)

Ingredients:

(Serves 1)

• 1 cup (150 grams) chopped fresh or frozen pineapple

• 1 cup (30 grams) packed chopped spinach 

• 1 cup (95 grams) green grapes, frozen

• Juice of ½ lemon

• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger

• 1 tsp ground flaxseed

• 1-2 Tbsp your milk alternative, water, or coconut water, as needed

• ½ scoop vanilla protein powder

Directions:

1. Place all the ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth. Add liquid (milk alternative, water, or coconut water) as needed if the mixture is too thick.

2. Pour into a glass and drink up!

Hope you enjoy this one!

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by Xarhini from Getty Images