Quinoa and Bolognese Sauce

Quinoa and Bolognese Sauce are a healthier, gluten-free twist on the classic pasta dish. Rich and hearty, this delicious meal will leave you satisfied.

Quinoa & Bolognese Sauce garnished with fresh basil and an arugula salad in a wooden bowl

Sometimes a rich and hearty meat sauce and a perfectly cooked side is what you want for dinner.

I say go for it!

But instead of the nutritionally void white pasta, I like to make Quinoa & Bolognese Sauce which totally satisfies the craving. Fresh basil or a big handful of Parmesan cheese takes it to the next level.

One of the first detoxes I did involved eliminating wheat for 28 days. Initially,  I wondered if I would be able to do it. What on Earth would I eat? My diet was full of wheat and I ate it at most meals.

During this cleanse I needed to source out other options that would replace my constant wheat based staples. Where would I start? I thought things like ‘what do lentils taste like?’ and  ‘you cook brown rice for how long?’

This was when I discovered quinoa. <— Check out those health benefits!!

Quinoa & Bolognese Sauce garnished with fresh basil and an arugula salad in a wooden bowl

QUINOA BOLOGNESE SAUCE

I cook enough quinoa for 2 portions and pack up 1/2 for lunch tomorrow or the next day.

Quinoa is simple to prepare.

Quinoa & Bolognese Sauce garnished with fresh basil and an arugula salad in a wooden bowl

IMPORTANT QUINOA TIP!

An important quinoa preparation step is to rinse it well!

Quinoa has a film of a chemical compound called saponin that will give the grain a bitter taste if it’s not washed off. Saponin easily dissolves in water.

Most commercial brands may claim to be pre-rinsed but it’s best to give it a good swish yourself first.

Quinoa & Bolognese Sauce garnished with fresh basil and an arugula salad in a wooden bowl

I’m making this quinoa for a meat-based sauce, so for extra flavor, I’m cooking it in beef broth. Any vegetarians/vegans can use veggie broth and omit the beef from the sauce.

Bring the combination of quinoa and broth to a bubble, turn the heat down to a simmer, and let it cook, covered for approximately 10 minutes. Watch it towards the end. You want to see all of the liquid absorbed. Remove from heat and let it stand another 10 minutes, covered,  before fluffing it with a fork.

Or Make Your Quinoa in the Instant Pot

Quinoa & Bolognese Sauce garnished with fresh basil and an arugula salad in a wooden bowl

How to Make Quinoa & Bolognese Sauce

1. Brown the beef over medium heat, adding 2-3 generous pinches of seal salt and quite a few grinds of fresh pepper.

Beef in a large pan

2. Add in chopped onion, celery and garlic.

Ingredients on a cutting board

3. Add sauce and simmer. Stir the parsley in right before serving.

Sauce in a large pan

 And, if you’re really nice like me, you could add a third pot to the stove and make a regular pasta noodle for the picky member of your family.

Pots on the stove

 It all comes together quite easily. I like to make a big batch of sauce so that I can freeze half and cut down on some cook time on a meal in the future. Just heat up the sauce and make the quinoa.

Boom!

meal garnished with fresh basil and an arugula salad in a wooden bowl

It’s great to have a meal that resembles a pasta dish but without the inevitable bloat-y feeling of traditional wheat noodles.

The best part is you really feel like you have eaten.

Looking for more dinner ideas with beef? We love this easy slow cooker beef teriyaki recipe. It is perfect for meal prep and requires only FIVE ingredients!

meal garnished with fresh basil and an arugula salad in a wooden bowl

MORE HEALTHY GLUTEN FREE DINNER RECIPES:

Mexican Brown Rice Bake

Chicken Avocado Salad

Beef Taco Salad

Instant Pot Brown Rice Chicken Burrito Bowls

*Originally posted April 8, 2013. Updated October 5, 2018*

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Quinoa with Bolognese Sauce

Sharon Rhodes
Quinoa & Bolognese Sauce is a healthier and gluten free twist on the classic pasta dish. Rich and hearty, this delicious meal will leave you satisfied.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 398 kcal

Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Heat olive oil over medium. Add beef with salt & pepper and brown, breaking it up with a spoon. Once it’s browned, add onion & celery and saute for around 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and mix all together. Pour in 2 jars of tomato sauce and bring to a quick boil. Turn down and simmer while you make your quinoa and/or noodles
  • TO MAKE QUINOA:
  • Bring all ingredients to a boil in a covered saucepan.
  • Turn heat to a low simmer, still covered, for approximately 10 minutes. Check to see all liquid has been absorbed. Move pot off the heat and let stand covered for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and spoon into bowls.

Nutrition

Calories: 398kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 31gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 439mgPotassium: 722mgFiber: 4gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 531IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 5mg
Keyword dinner recipes, gluten free recipes
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