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Pistachio Quinoa Dukkah Crusted Chicken Fingers with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto.
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So, this is what I call healthy comfort food.
I know spring is supposed to be all about lighter eats and well, less cheese, but come on? Where is the fun in that? Plus, we all know that the month of April has plenty of showers, or in my snow. Ugh.
Yes, it’s still snowing here in the Rockies and yes, I HATE it.
And yes, this is why today you are seeing cheesy, comfort food. BUT this dish is full of all things healthy, so it really is healthy comfort food. And well, as far as the cheese goes, you don’t have to add as much as I did…
But you should. Just sayin.
So let me just tell you about all the things I love about this little bake here.
>>>It’s probably got to be the easiest thing you can make. You literally dirty just one dish and one spoon/fork or whatever you decide to use. You may have to dirty two if you don’t have any leftover quinoa in the fridge, but lately I have been cooking up big batches of grains (ok, I know that quinoa is not technically a grain) on Sunday so I have easy sides for dinners, or as a way to hearty up salads and such for the week. Wow, that sounds so grown up and all.
Man. My brothers are right, I am so old for my age. I need to act a little more “21-ish” sometimes.
>>>Aside from this being insanely easy to make on any given night of the week, it’s also insanely delicious. Like insanely. I basically took the idea of my dad’s Friday night pasta and swapped the pasta for quinoa and added some sun-dried tomato pesto + roasted artichokes. It’s such a good combo of ingredients and definitely one of my favorite dishes. Like I have been making it once a week for the past month.
>>>The colors!! I just love, love, love the pretty vibrant colors (and flavors) going on here. Can you say color freak? YUP.
>>>Though this is ideal for busy weeknights or a day when you want to prep dinner before work and then cook when you get home, I personally love this on a Friday or Saturday night. It’s just something about those peppers and cheese together. For me, that combo will always scream “it’s the weekend, lets relax!”. Kind of odd, but I am learning I am a pretty odd person. And I am OK with that.
>>>It’s a foolproof recipe with a ten minute prep time and about 40 minutes in the oven…which clearly means that the 40 minutes in the oven gives you 40 minutes for a beer (wine, margarita, whatever you drink), talk time with a friend or significant other, or just time to read a trashy magazine and relax…. OK, fine that only happens in a perfect word, but maybe you can drink the wine while vacuuming? Life.
>>>Finally, you can totally adapt this and make it vegan!! Yes, vegan. Just leave out the cheeses all together or swap in some vegan cheese. I can’t say it will be just as good because I love cheese, but it will still be completely awesome. You could even make it into a quinoa salad and just skip baking this all together, toss everything in a bowl and eat warm or cold. Perfect for on the go lunches!!
Also, how pretty are those tomatoes?? I know tomatoes are not in season just yet (well, the heirlooms are!!), but they looked too pretty not to buy, and wow, they actually tasted amazing!!
Have any of you started your summer gardens yet? If so, I ENVY you. I want so badly to have a garden full of veggies and fruits, but where I live, there are only 30 nights a year where the temps do not go below freezing. I know people have gardens up here, but it’s just a lot harder to manage. I am currently trying to convince my dad that we should build a greenhouse…unfortunately I think little Asher has him heavily distracted with this whole “daddy will you please buy me a horse thing”. The girl has the poor guy pretty well wrapped around her sweet little finger. Poor Dad!
Anyway, the point of this rambling is that I really want you guys to make this one-pan spring Tuscan quinoa bake.
And make it soon!!
SO. You all know what you are all making for dinner one night this week, right?
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
K. Cool. Let’s do this!
I can’t find sun-dried tomato pesto (live in Switzerland). Any suggestions for a substitute? LOVE your recipes.
I have a recipe going up for sun-dried tomato pesto tomorrow, so you can just make it yourself. Would that work? it is really easy! If not, basil pesto would be great too or just add a bunch of fresh basil.
Thanks!
Looks so good! And because of the quinoa it’s completely healthy, right? 🙂
YES! 🙂
This is such a great idea! I’ve never thought to treat quinoa this way but it makes all the sense in the world. I have to try this pronto!
Thanks!
Friday nights dinner I promise ! Yum !
Hope you love it! THANKS!
Beautiful creation! I would love a baking dish just like that one. Any chance you remember where you got it?
Thanks Austin! I actually found it at a TJ Max in Florida, but I seen similar items at other Tj Max store too!
This looks absolutely amazing! Love the colorful tomatoes and the artichokes. And the spray of water that you captured in the picture where you’re washing the bell pepper is lovely.
Thanks Alexa!!
So much to love about this bake! First off, the colors here are amazing! And I love the switch up in the styling here, too!!
THANK YOU!!
Tuscan + Quinoa + Healthy + Delicious + Cheesy? Sign me up. Like for dinner right meow.
Thanks Meg!!
I love all those mediterranean flavors…anything with olive, peppers and cheese I’m sold…..I love that baker you are using.
Thanks Lisa!!
This looks amazing!!
Thanks Brenda!!
This looks great! Healthy enough for April but cheesy comfort food is always OK in my book. Love the mix of flavors and colors. Will definitely have to try soon!
Thanks Kathryn!!
Easy, Cheesy, Quinoa-y (?) and fool proof?! Where has this recipe been all my life! I am so all about keeping the Spring comfort food going on, so don’t mind me while I get my faceplant on! Pinned!
Thank you so much, Taylor!! Hope you are enjoying some nice spring weather!!
Love the action shot of the pepper being washed! Awesome job 🙂
haha My friends tell me I need to act my age, too. But, you know what? We should just ignore them and make this easy quinoa bake on a Sunday so we have easy sides for dinners! 😉
Thank you so much! Hope you are having a great week!!
That really does looks so yummy. And your photos are beautiful by the way (love the washing the pepper pic!
Thank you so much, Emma!!
I haven’t had the best experience with quinoa. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to make it right but I definitely would be willing to give it another go covered in melted cheese! I’ve always got time for that.
Try this, I think with all the flavors you might really like it!
THANKS!