Beefless Tips on a Bed of Asparagus Quinoa Cooked with Lemongrass & Ginger

It’s easy to fall into the trap of grabbing junk food when you’re rushed off your feet, but here’s a nice and easy, super-simple meat-free alternative.  I know this isn’t really a full-on RECIPE, as such, but when I tasted that quinoa I had to tell you how easy it was to make something otherwise bland taste spectacular, and the Gardein is such an easy addition to up the protein quotient!

All you need is:

• A bag of Gardein Home Style Beefless Tips (look in the freezer section of your local Safeway or WholeFoods)
• Some canola oil
• A cup of Quinoa (Fred Meyer carries it in their gluten-free section, Whole Foods has it in bulk or pre-packaged, Safeway apparently has never heard of it)
• 2 cups of vegetable broth (or you can use water and crumble a veggie stock cube in)
• 3 stalks of lemongrass, sliced diagonally
• A bunch of fresh asparagus spears
• Some crushed/minced garlic and ginger (to taste)

Cook the quinoa first, it’ll take about 15 mins all-up. Bring the broth to a boil, then add the lemongrass, garlic and ginger, and quinoa. Turn the heat down to a simmer for 10 minutes.

Now add the asparagus and, if you need to, a teeny bit more water, and simmer for another 5 minutes.

While that’s cooking, heat some canola oil in a fry pan and add the Gardein beefless tips. Sear them for 3-4 mins until they’re nicely cooked.

Serve the beefless tips on a bed of the asparagus quinoa.

(tip: don’t eat the lemongrass, it’s just for seasoning!) 

~Lorrin