Quinoa loaf with spinach and parmesan

Serves: 8 (makes 8 slices)

Time to make: 55 mins

Hands-on time: 25 mins

Ingredients

More weights & measures

1 ¼ cups quinoa
2 ½ cups reduced-salt liquid stock
1 tablespoon oil
1 small red onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 teaspoons sundried tomato paste
⅓ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
⅓ cup semi-dried tomatoes, chopped
250g cooked chicken, diced
25g pine nuts, lightly toasted
2 eggs
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
150g free-flow spinach, defrosted
Sauce
200g (2 medium-sized) tomatoes
1 teaspoon sugar
½ cup liquid stock, heated
Veges
4 carrots, cut into ribbons
2 cups baby spinach leaves
1.2kg (about 10-11 medium-sized) potatoes, cooked and mashed with 4 tablespoons pesto

Instructions

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1 Preheat oven to 180ºC. Heat stock in a pan until boiling. Add quinoa and cook for 12-15 minutes over a medium heat. Line the base of a loaf tin with greaseproof paper.

2 Cook onion with garlic in oil until softened. Add tomato paste with basil and cook for a further few minutes.

3 Place quinoa in a bowl with the remaining ingredients, except the spinach. Season. Spoon half the quinoa mixture into the loaf tin and level out with a knife. Add the spinach in a layer. Top with the remaining quinoa. Level surface with a knife.

4 Place the baking tin in a larger ovenproof dish that has boiling water added to it. Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the top of the loaf is firm and lightly golden.

5 Meanwhile, prepare the sauce by mixing all ingredients in a blender. Place in a pan to heat. Season. Serve the loaf sliced, with sauce, lightly steamed vegetables and mashed potato. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Variations

Make it gluten free: Use gluten-free stock and check pesto is gluten free.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 420 cal

Kilojoules 1730 kJ

Protein 22 g

Total fat 15 g

Saturated fat 4 g

Carbohydrates 45 g

Sugar 5 g

Dietary fibre 7 g

Sodium 480 mg

Calcium 170 mg

Iron 4.5 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.