burrito quinoa bowl

Ready for another quinoa recipe???
You better be.

I was just in Texas to visit family and now I can't get Tex Mex food out of my head!
And quinoa is the perfect vessel for summer fare.
Quinoa is super healthy and if you don't have a big, fat, warm flour tortilla around, (oh man. my mouth is watering now.) then you have just cut out about 99% of the fat associated with Mexican food.

Well, but we are adding back in the sour cream.
*sigh*

Burrito Quinoa Bowl

Serves 4.
Adapted from The Shiksa!

1 cup quinoa

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup onion, minced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Pinch of cayenne pepper 

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1 cup shredded lettuce

Grated cheddar or jack cheese

Sour cream

Pico de gallo or salsa

Diced seeded tomatoes or cherry tomato halves

Hot sauce

Sliced avocado or guacamole

Grilled corn
Salt and pepper to taste

Pour quinoa into a saucepan along with 2 cups of water. Bring the quinoa to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover the pot. Let the quinoa simmer for about 20 minutes till it becomes tender and all the liquid has been absorbed. 
While quinoa is cooking, heat the oil in another saucepan over medium heat. Place minced onion into the saucepan and saute for a few minutes till it softens and begins to turn brown. Add the minced garlic to the pot and let it saute for 1-2 minutes longer till aromatic. Add the black beans to the pot of onions along with 1/2 cup water, half the chopped fresh cilantro, and the chili powder and cayenne pepper. Bring the beans to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low. Let the beans simmer for 15 minutes till the liquid is mostly evaporated. Stir in half of the fresh lime juice. Season with salt to taste. 
When the quinoa is fully cooked, remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Use the fork to mix in the rest of the chopped cilantro and lime juice. Season with salt to taste. 
Assemble your burrito bowls. Divide the cilantro lime quinoa between four bowls. Top each portion of quinoa with 1/4 cup of shredded lettuce. Top each portion of lettuce with simmered black beans. Top the black beans with your choice of the rest of the ingredients.  Season to taste, kinda mix with your spoon, and enjoy warm!